Noise and distractions are the big workplace productivity killers
Modern, open-plan offices lend themselves to high levels of noise and distractions, however these have become the biggest workplace productivity killers.
The ability to focus and work without interruptions is a top priority for employees when it comes to office design, according to a study by Oxford Economics. It was ranked first by 29 per cent, second by 21 per cent and third by 18 per cent.
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However, only 39 per cent of executives acknowledged ambient noise affects their employees’ productivity, and just 33 per cent said loud colleagues are an issue. As such, very few firms had taken meaningful steps to address the problem.
"Noise and distraction have a big impact on productivity," Edward Cone, deputy director of thought leadership and technology practice lead at Oxford Economics, said.
He added: "These are issues that companies can address — but first they need to acknowledge the problem."