Recent research provides business owners sufficient justification for investing in systems designed to diminish office noise and corroborates the widespread experience of office workers far and wide. Anyone ever employed in a busy office knows the capacity to which office noise and conversational distractions lead to wasted time, reduced productivity, higher stress levels, and an increase the frequency of unnecessary mistakes.

In a recent study by Cornell University researchers that was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, it was found that even comparatively low levels of office noise caused an increase in levels of stress, as well as a decrease in productivity and motivation. Researchers have theorized that increased stress levels, as shown by the increased levels of adrenaline in blood, over a period of time might actually cause the onset of serious health issues, like heart disease. As well as the cost of lost productivity, workers might have to bear the brunt of such associated medical care expenses too.

Another study by the American Society of Interior Designers also demonstrated that employee productivity decreased as ambient noise levels increased. This study found excessive noise especially prevalent in the modern open-office environment where frail cubicles have replaced walled offices, and electronic devices add to the cacophony.

Offices in mixed areas sometimes create one of several problems for the modern office worker. For instance, there may be a person in a near by partition which may be using the phone this can cause problems for a technical writer, who needs complete concentration, from working at his/her best work ability in a particular time frame.

Many solutions exist for the serious issue of excessive office noise. Distracted workers usually turn to wearable means of muffling sounds, like ear muffs or plugs, or else desktop white noise gadgets. But by indiscriminately muffling every sound, these devices can also decrease worker productivity. Headphones with active noise canceling technology will alleviate distracting noise but without muffling all the important sounds.

The intelligent business solution to excessive office noise starts with proper office design, adequate sound insulation, or the installation of an effective office sound masking system. The price of such systems has decreased dramatically over the years. With the evidence available and the solutions affordable, the wise employer no longer has an excuse for ignoring the problem of excessive workplace noise.