Open offices are very popular nowadays, especially in the startup game, but they do have a drawback, which is office noise. The sounds of malfunctioning air conditioning systems, keyboard clatter, and ringing phones often distract employees and hinder general productivity. No matter which office layout you’ve chosen, you should know that reducing or eliminating office noise will help your team members focus and get things done. A few simple changes will make a big difference.
Stop AC Noise With HVAC Maintenance
A high-quality AC (air conditioning) system that is well-maintained will produce a little unobtrusive white noise, in the form of a gentle and soothing hum. An air conditioning system that isn’t working correctly may produce noise that is downright annoying, such as squealing caused by damaged or aging AC system components. The easiest way to stop irritating AC noise is to call an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technician who specializes in maintaining commercial AC systems. They will look at the system, troubleshoot the problem, and suggest repairs that will make your workspace significantly quieter.
Mute Keyboard Clatter With Silent Keyboards
When a lot of people are using their keyboards at once, the clatter may be very noticeable. An easy quick fix is replacing noisy keyboards with silent keyboards. Another option is buying silent switches, which adapt keyboards for silent performance. Silent switches aren’t available for all keyboards, so you’ll need to see if you can find silent switches that are compatible with your current keyboards. A lot of people choose silent switches for their mechanical keyboards, as the mechanical styles tend to be fairly noisy.
If you want to go one step further, offer every worker in your office a silent mouse. A silent computer mouse is made with switches that feature rubber initiators. These rubber components will dramatically dampen clicking sounds and vibrations. Some of these mice are truly silent, while others offer whisper-quiet performances.
Cut Phone Noise With Lower Phone Volume Settings
It’s hard to concentrate on work while phones are ringing loudly. The simplest method of cutting this type of noise is lowering the phone volume settings all throughout the office. If doing this doesn’t reduce phone noise enough, utilize a technique that many call centers rely on by putting sound-absorbing materials between each employee or on walls and floors. This approach is ideal for offices with cubicles and it dampens the sounds of ringing phones, as well as noise from phone conversations.
If you don’t have and don’t want cubicles, consider adding plants to the office environment as they help neutralize phone noise and other types of office sounds. If you want to give your office a fresh and modern look, add a green wall composed of plants. This type of living wall will reduce ambient noise and offer workers a welcome and soothing touch of nature.
Noise pollution is a reality in many offices. It’s up to business owners to stop it, for the sake of higher productivity and a happier workforce. Now that you know some helpful ways to reduce or eliminate office noise, you’ll be ready to make improvements.
