Office Noise Can Create Stress And Have Negative Impact
Think about a stressful workday, when you need to submit a vital sales report and tally important survey data. You might come in to work a few hours early, in order to put in more time on these tasks. Now, picture yourself trying to compile that data next to a coworker, who can't stop talking about a strange blind date that she just had. It's difficult for you to concentrate in an environment like that, right?
Work-related noise pollution can result from multiple causes but no matter where it originates, noise lessens your ability to work effectively. Also, noise pollution makes you stressed and can result in depression and other problems.
Having said that, though, a majority of employees have to deal with office noise sooner or later. Often, this noise presents itself in the form of chattering colleagues, who are discussing almost everything except work related issues. If you're in this situation, and you'd like to extract yourself from it, the best approach is to be sympathetic but direct, and to inform them that their discussions are distracting you from your job. Often, your colleagues will apologize and relocate their conversation.
If you are experiencing disruptive noise due to a printer or facsimile machine located near your desk, you might politely request that your information technology colleagues look into the origin of the sound. It is probably the result of a malfunction, since the majority of office equipment firms manufacture noise-free machines at great expense to themselves. If the offending devices are properly and regularly serviced, that will usually eliminate the sound entirely or at very least lower the noise level.
Lots of offices are plagued with noises that come from the coffee machine. While the machine is there to provide convenient drinks, it can also provide high levels of background noise, which can distract a person from performing assigned tasks. If this is the case in your office, consider bringing the issue up with a supervisor or a colleague.
It's not useful to have a noisy office, no matter where the noise is coming from. There are plenty of inexpensive methods to control noise, and most of these can be applied to an office setting. For example, sound absorbent panels and high walls for cubicles can minimize the distance that noise can travel, whether the noise is coming from humans or from machines. Placing conference rooms or cafeterias away from work areas is also useful. Finally, introducing white noise or sound masking is a very effective way to solve the problem. White noise can cover the problem noise with ambient, low-level sounds, and a new white noise system can be inserted into most office design formats. Basically, the goal is to keep office noise levels under control.
Office noise is a big problem these days. With more and more offices trying to squeeze more and more people into tiny little cubicles, you're likely to suffer from the ill effects of a noisy office. What can you do? A lot of employees are trying different sound masking tricks. Believe it or not, you can buy a set of noise canceling headphones and wear them to work. You can ask your fellow employees to turn down the noise. Or, you could move to a different cubicle"¦ okay, that's not very likely.
Published May 29th, 2008
