Jabra, an audio, video, and collaboration solutions, is part of GN Group, focusing on empowering consumers and businesses through engineering excellence and wireless headphones and earbuds, enabling productivity and enjoyment of calls, music, and media.
New research by Jabra reveals that audio quality and noise management significantly impact cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing in the workplace. The study, involving 2,000 knowledge workers from the US, UK, France, and Germany, highlights the need for better workspace design and technology investments to enhance productivity, mental health, and office culture, especially in hybrid work environments.
The research underscores the importance of aligning office environments with employee preferences to prevent burnout, reduce stress, and improve focus. High-quality audio and noise reduction technologies are crucial for maintaining productivity and mental health, thereby providing organizations with a competitive advantage by fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
New research released today by Jabra analyzed the role audio plays on cognitive, emotional, and physical wellbeing in the workplace and found return to office initiatives can create unintended consequences if not managed well. The research was carried out among 2,000 knowledge workers across the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The findings revealed that improving workspaces to correlate with employee preference can positively influence mental wellbeing and productivity, ultimately encouraging a positive office culture and providing organizations with a competitive advantage.
After years of isolation following pandemic-forced remote work, the solution to prevent burnout and loneliness was the return to office. Yet according to Jabra research, promising an ideal workplace culture through a hybrid structure isn’t enough – technology investments also have an important role to play.
While 9 in 10 knowledge workers say getting work done, being able to focus on work, and maintaining good mental health are equally important, the changes needed for workspaces that will allow for the return to office to be successful are being undersold. Nearly three quarters (74%) of workers say working in a loud environment makes them mentally tired and look towards clear and high-quality sound to enhance their ability to focus. For company leaders encouraging return to office, investing in spaces and technology that improve their employees’ productivity is a necessity.
Office buzz or a productivity buzzkill?
While organizations are continuing to push for employees to return to offices, nearly half (47%) of respondents say they are stressed by noise at the office not allowing them to focus. To successfully hire, retain, and encourage a positive office culture, Jabra research calls for a strategic approach to revamping spaces that align with employee working styles.
Audio plays an important role in eliminating distractions: 37% of knowledge workers surveyed say it is difficult for them to be productive at work when coworkers are taking calls at their desks without headphones. While 39% reported it was equally difficult to lead or participate in their own calls when coworkers are taking meetings from their desks without headphones. To avoid noise and limit distractions, over half of workers (59%) say they are expected to take calls away from their desks in a separate room and use professional headphones (69%).
The findings show the impact noise has on overall productivity and performance. With 74% saying clear and high-quality sound enhances their ability to focus on tasks and projects, it is critical that leaders do all they can to provide the right technology and a conducive environment for employees returning to the office to avoid the productivity buzzkill.
Loud environments and their impact on mental wellbeing
Beyond disruption, poor audio quality also has negative consequences on work and mental health, with 54% of knowledge workers saying poor quality audio during conference calls negatively impacts their wellbeing.
The impact loud environments have on mental health and wellbeing is clear: nearly three quarters (74%) say working in a loud environment makes them mentally tired. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of respondents agree that working in a loud environment makes them physically tired (63%) and it is difficult for them to feel passionate about their work when working in such an environment (63%).
Investing in the right technology for employees, whether in-office, remote, or operating on a hybrid schedule is necessary for business success. Jabra’s research notes that knowledge workers believe higher-quality meeting audio can positively impact their interpersonal skills in the workplace through clearer communication (43%), improved collaboration (40%), and enhanced communication skills (37%).
Business success relies on strategic workspaces
As disruptive noise was found to have a negative impact on overall mental health and productivity, knowledge workers believe employers have a responsibility to address audio issues in a variety of ways to improve office culture. This ranges from providing noise-cancelling headphones as part of standard office equipment (37%) and allowing employees to work from home more frequently (37%). Nearly a third (32%) say their employer could also designate specific areas for different types of activities such as quiet zones or collaborative zones to ensure employees have options available in the offices.
With a positive impact on both business and employees, 2 in 3 knowledge workers agree that employers should invest more in creating an inclusive workplace. Gone are the days where offices solely catered to a single type of employee and one perceived working style.
