Over the past couple of years, the working culture along with the office environment has changed. Previously the corporate offices used to be calm, productive, properly managed, and not noisy. However, the modern offices have changed completely. Thanks to the introduction of new work culture, many business owners have started choosing shared office spaces so that they can provide their employees with a more productive environment.
But there are numerous problems associated with shared office spaces and distraction is probably one of the most common challenges most employees face while working in a shared office. Not only shared and open office spaces but closed office spaces can also suffer from extreme noise problems. When the office environment is affected by noise pollution, employees will never be able to focus and complete their work properly.
Why Noisy Office Environment Is Bad
As a business owner, you need to pay close attention to the physical and mental well-being of your employees. In addition, you also need to make sure that your employees are capable of concentrating on their tasks without suffering from distractions. When the office environment is noisy, it will create numerous problems.
Noise Will Affect Productivity
One of the most devastating things that noise causes in the office space is decreasing the productivity of the employees. An excess amount of sound will create an environment. Employees who have sensitive ears or feel uncomfortable with too loud sounds would never be able to focus properly.
The Needs of Your Employees Vary
Those who suffer from any physical issues or cannot hear properly might face extreme problems listening to conversations when the background noise is higher. Not to mention, the noisy surround will also irritate them. Similarly, people suffering from ADHD might also find focusing on their tasks completely as the noise levels are way too high. Noisy background can also trigger symptoms of PTSD, panic disorders, and epilepsy. If you want to fulfill the needs of every employee, you need to invest in an office noise cancellation environment.
Your Partners and Customers Won’t Be Happy
Meetings with associates and partners, phone calls with customers or other business-related conversations might be affected when the background noise of your office is too much. Not to mention, the participants might also mishear essential pieces of information that will create confusion later. In addition, casual business projects as well as opportunities will also be affected.
You Need to Think of the Neighbors
This is another reason why office noise would always affect your work culture. If you happen to have a shared office space, keep in mind that there will be other managers, business owners, and employees completing their tasks. If the employees of your company create too much of noise pollution, the other individuals will certainly become angry. You cannot expect them to ensure and resume their work in such a noisy environment.
How Can You Reduce Office Noise?
Reducing office noises is possible. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to implement the necessary methods so that you can reduce the noise effectively. Here are some effective methods you need to keep in mind.
Purchase a Sound Masking Device
One of the most effective ways to reduce office noise is by using sound masking devices. Sound masking devices are designed to produce background noise that masks unwanted sounds in the office, creating a more comfortable and less distracting environment. These devices use white noise, pink noise, or other ambient sounds to mask unwanted noise.
When purchasing a sound masking device, you should consider the size of your office space, the number of employees, and the level of noise pollution. You should also ensure that the device is easy to install and operate and has adjustable volume controls to suit different office settings. Additionally, you should choose a device that is energy-efficient and has a long lifespan to avoid frequent replacements.
Move the Materials Around
Another way to reduce office noise is by rearranging the office layout. The placement of materials in the office can significantly affect the level of noise pollution. For example, placing noisy equipment, such as printers, scanners, or shredders, in a central location can increase noise levels. Similarly, placing employees close to each other can cause noise pollution due to their conversations.
To reduce noise pollution, you should consider relocating noisy equipment to a separate room or a far corner of the office. You should also create more distance between employees’ workstations to reduce noise levels. Additionally, you can use partitions or cubicles to create a physical barrier between employees, reducing noise pollution.
Create Quiet Zones and Loud Zones
Another effective way of reducing office noise is by creating quiet zones and loud zones in the office. The quiet zones are areas where employees can work without distractions, while the loud zones are areas where employees can collaborate and have conversations.
To create quiet zones, you should choose a location that is far from noisy equipment and place a ‘quiet zone’ sign to indicate that it is a quiet area. You should also provide noise-cancelling headphones to employees in quiet zones to reduce ambient noise. As per Forvi, quiet zones are essential for every office space.
On the other hand, to create loud zones, you should choose a location that is near noisy equipment and place a ‘loud zone’ sign to indicate that it is a collaborative area. You can also provide sound-absorbing materials such as carpets, curtains, and wall panels to reduce noise pollution in loud zones.
Choose Furnishings Accordingly
The choice of furnishings in the office can also affect the level of noise pollution. Certain materials such as tiles and concrete can reflect sound waves, causing an echo effect in the office. On the other hand, materials such as carpets, curtains, and wall panels can absorb sound waves, reducing noise pollution.
To reduce noise pollution, you should choose furnishings that are sound-absorbing. For example, you can use carpets, curtains, and wall panels in the office. You can also use furniture with soft surfaces such as sofas and chairs with upholstery to reduce noise pollution.
Conclusion
This is the ultimate guide you need to know if you have plans to reduce noise in your office space. What are your thoughts? Make sure you let us know in the comment section below.
