White Noise at Workplace - Benefits, Reasons, and Installation
posted:3 years agobyMarry JoJoin Work Life
Do you feel distracted from frequent phone calls ringing in your office? Do you lose complete focus on work due to the hammering sound of construction sites nearby the office? You are not alone.
In an office environment, outdoor and indoor noises create problems. Employees lose focus, they get distracted, and thereby their productivity graph reduces at an exponential rate. This disturbing noise is a workplace dilemma.
Now the question is, what can employers do about loud noises? Well, you can kill loud noise with another noise. I know it sounds weird, but yeah, it's the ultimate solution. Employers can boost the productivity and focus of employees via white, pink, or brown noises.
What is White Noise?
White noise is a combination of different sound frequencies ranging from 20-20,000 Hz. The best example of this noise is rainfall and ocean waves. When this noise plays in the background, you hear 20K frequencies of sound simultaneously.
Now the question is what that noise can do.
EXAMPLE
An example is you are sitting in an office, and lots of people are talking around. You get distracted because of their voices. You would know what people are talking about.
In another example, you sit in a stadium, and lots of people are talking at the same time. You can hear hissing sounds and have no idea who is saying what.
It's because you hear so many voices at the same time. They are blocking individual voices.
When you play white noise in the background, it will block all disturbing voices in your office.
Three Different Kinds of Noises Used at Workplace
White Noise is a mix of all high sound frequencies. It is a high pitch voice that our brain processes as confident and composed.
Pink noise has a combination of a few high frequencies. Your brain process is a soft, relaxing, and soothing sound. Light wind and gentle rainfall are the best examples of pink noise. You can improve your memory and concentration by playing pink noise in the background. Play it at night, and you will fall asleep quickly.
Brown noise is a combination of the lowest volume of high sound frequencies. It's more like a low-level roar that our brain processes intensely. The best examples of this voice are distant traffic and heavier rainfall.
What Noise to Install in Office?
- It all depends on your office environment. If you hear too many loud voices around and there are multiple noisy distractions, then the ultimate solution is to install white noise at the workplace.
- For tackling the light conversational tone of the office, you should go with pink noise.
- In case you are bothered by rumbling noise, play brown noise in your office background.
Reasons for Installing White Noise at Workplace
Here are some benefits of setting this noise in your office.
Improve Focus
The most essential thing in any office is to stay focused. It's normal to get distracted by a nearby conversation and a telephone call. Employers can increase the focus of their employees on their tasks through the white noise.
It will cancel multiple voices and distractions. Thereby, employees will emphasize these given tasks and won't get disturbed by distractions easily.
Increase Productivity
Getting distracted by noises means losing focus and not completing tasks on time. When your home is near a construction site, multiple voices disturb your sleep and quality of life. Similarly, when an office has construction in process nearby or lots of distractions, employees won't be able to do it on time.
Reduce Anxiety
Anxiety is among the most common disorders in Canada. The personal and professional lives of people get affected by this health issue. In 2013, almost 3 million Canadian over age 18 accepted that they suffered from mood and anxiety disorder- Check details here.
When an anxious person starts working, lots of audible office chaos like chatting, keyboard tapping, clock ticking, phone ringing, and other voices disturb them. All these distractions affect their productivity level, and their anxiety level boosts up as they can't do their job in the way they want.
Check Signs of Depression at Workplace
The rising level of anxiety can be dialed down through playing white noises in the background. If an employer doesn't work on this thing, he needs to let go of an employee and face the cost of employee turnover.
Increase Creativity
When work involves creativity, then you should play white noise. This high-frequency combination opens up the imagination door and lets people wonder more. So, when your job requires you to be more creative, consider going for this solution. Noise level of 85 decibels distracts people, but when people have 70 decibels level around, they can focus on the given tasks and never interrupt the creative flow.
Know: How to Do Time Management at Workplace
Reduce Stress
Every workplace has some sort of stress. If you want to boost the comfort level of your employee and want them to take less pressure on their job, you better install white noise at the workplace. It will help them calm their stressed nerves and get relaxed quite effortlessly. When employees feel comfortable, they won't feel overburdened. You can't reduce their workload but at least give them a comfy cushion at the office.
Dig into List of 7 Least Stressful Jobs
How to Set Voice Noise at the workplace?
There are two main ways:
- Headphone: Provide headphones at every desk and play white noise to your employee. However, they may find it hard to keep them on all the time. So, you should better go with the second option.
- Office sound masking: It is a system of concealed speakers that can be installed at the workplace. This system produces high frequencies of human speech to mask other kinds of sounds, which causes distractions.
Conclusion
White noise is a combination of the pleasant spectrum of high sound frequencies. It will bring a calming noise pattern for employees and help them focus more on work. They can concentrate better and stay productive while coping with stress, anxiety, and pressure. White noise at the workplace covers distraction quietly and builds a comfortable, audible zone for employees who enjoy their work. Employers need to invest in white noise background because they can get rid of high employee turnover rates and expect more productivity from employees.