A noisy office environment can cause more harm to productivity than most people think. Recent research suggests that employee performance is as strongly influenced by the organizational environment as it is by skills, knowledge and aptitude. Workplace distractions caused by noise negatively impact employee performance and business productivity.

Minimal office noise is, therefore, often a requirement for better employee performance. This can be a difficult thing to achieve. The feelings of noisy coworkers need to be considered. A solution which pleases all is the most effective one.

Certain styles of architecture make it more difficult to reduce or eliminate office noise. Many older buildings do not contain adequate sound insulation; newer buildings with large, open areas and brick or stone ceilings, walls and floors can be just as bad for containing noise. But there are still things that can be done to reduce noise in an office.

First, the human resources department should mandate an employee policy that encourages employees to avoid prattling in their cubicles so as not to disturb their co-workers. In addition, employees should be advised to stop taking personal telephone calls in hallways and cubicles. Instead they should be directed outside to the lobby when they have an urgent personal call.

All workers should be advised against the use of desktop or laptop speakers for playing music. To ensure that employees do not consider this as a harsh sound masking measure, the organization may choose to provide them with ear plugs or headsets. Noise canceling headsets can be especially helpful as workers attempt to focus more on the task at hand and less on their noisy coworkers.

A number of technological solutions are available as well, both for the individual and for offices. Speech privacy systems that have been installed by some progressive organizations have been quite successful. These sound masking systems mask speech, making noisy coworkers less intrusive. Sound absorbing panels on walls and furniture assist in noise reduction, at the same time adding to the office decor. These solutions may require a significant financial investment, but improved noise reduction often pays for itself as worker productivity increases as a result of fewer distractions.

There are also many individual solutions, in the event your employer is not interested in such a facilities improvement, often known as white noise machines. Such systems generally take up little desk space and can help you concentrate on your work instead of “Bob-noxious” down the row.

All workers should be advised against the use of desktop or laptop speakers for playing music. To ensure that employees do not consider this as a harsh sound masking measure, the organization may choose to provide them with ear plugs or headsets. Noise canceling headsets can be especially helpful as workers attempt to focus more on the task at hand and less on their noisy coworkers. There are also many great individual and enterprise-wide technological solutions. Forward-thinking companies have had great results installing a speech privacy system throughout their open offices.

- Frank Barnett