How Noise is Disrupting Your Work

How Noise is Disrupting Your Work Photo Credit â€" Pexels.comThe modern office layout trends toward open floor plans and co-working spaces. This layout allows employees to collaborate with each other, but that ability to collaborate involves speaking over interoffice noise.Noise is everywhere, inside and outside, at home, at work and in your pocket. That’s just how it is, right? It doesn’t have to be, and employees increasingly see how noise is negatively affecting their ability to do their jobs.What do you do? Some changes you will have to make on your own, but it’s your job to demand better of your workplace.Employees Want Employers to Create a Distraction-Free EnvironmentevalevalThe constant walk-ins and interruptions, in addition to a circus of copy machines, phones ringing and typing, negatively impacts job satisfaction. Add that to outside noise filtering in and the frustrations of noise on a daily level, especially on the commute to work â€" and you’ve got a very frustrated and worn out employee.Noise is the number one complaint employees have and wish their employers would fix â€" that’s over other freebies employees could have, such as half days on Friday or catered lunches. Even millennials, the generation that grew up with technology, want quiet spaces to do their work.Millennials aren’t alone in their need to be rid of noise at the office, either. Over 1,200 non-senior employees across various industries, from healthcare to retail, were surveyed by Oxford Economics, and 74 percent stated they worked in an open plan layout. More than half of all respondents reported issues with noise levels.Even 69 percent of supervisors had their office designed with noise reduction as a factor, with 64 percent of supervisors planning to keep outside noise out, too.Noise Negatively Affects Your Work Performance and HealthNoise disrupts your work and ability to focus. The World Health Organization Observe the noise levels in your office and how employees respond to those levels throughout the day. At certain parts of the day, noise levels will peak. Ask how others cope with hazardous sounds and seek solutions together by employing some of the suggestions above.A little creative rearranging, installing and upgrading can achieve a happier and healthier workplace â€" with relief from stress and noise pollution.