Today, a large proportion of employees in Germany work in open-plan offices. This has many advantages, such as short communication paths and lower rental costs due to reduced space requirements. Despite these benefits, open-plan offices are not as ideal as once assumed.
The central core problem is that employees are frequently distracted. This is primarily caused by phone calls and conversations from other people nearby, as well as other noise sources such as ringtones. All of these distractions have an acoustic origin.
The problem of “acoustic” distraction — that is, distraction caused by noise — has reached dramatic levels. As a result, more and more employers are rethinking their office concepts and searching for new solutions, as the negative consequences are alarming.
Reduced productivity (up to 28%)
Office noise distracts employees from their work and causes irritation. People are constantly pulled out of their workflow and become frustrated. On average, 1.5 hours of pure working time per employee are lost every day due to distractions. (1)
Psychological stress, poor concentration, and lack of motivation then lead to significant productivity losses. Experts estimate productivity reductions of 15 to 28 percent. (2)
Lower job satisfaction
Working in an open office without retreat options reduces employee well-being by 32%. (03) Reduced productivity leads to reduced satisfaction. Job satisfaction works like a positive upward spiral: when people are focused and productive, they experience success — and success boosts motivation and happiness. When employees are stressed and unproductive, dissatisfaction grows. (3)Just one example among many: satisfied sales staff sell 37% more. (4)
More sick days
Employees exposed to constant stimuli and distractions are twice as likely to be ill. These distractions and the feeling of being constantly observed create psychological stress. Everyone needs a place to retreat — even if only for five minutes. Without such a space to recharge, absenteeism doubles. (5)
Poor concentration and lack of focus
After each distraction, it takes 20 minutes to fully regain focus. (6) Distractions such as conversations or phone calls occur frequently in open-plan offices. Studies show that around 1.5 hours of work time are lost daily due to distractions. (7) Another strong reason to reduce interruptions, isn’t it? (02)
Lack of privacy
Some conversations simply should not be overheard by everyone in the office. But how is that possible in an open-plan environment? The lack of proper retreat spaces for calls and meetings creates a feeling of vulnerability and constant observation. The absence of acoustic privacy is by far the biggest cause of employee dissatisfaction. (8)
Increased stress
Noise levels in open-plan offices can reach up to 70 decibels. Because this noise is often perceived as relatively quiet, it is referred to as “low-level noise.” Nevertheless, its impact is significant. The German Association of Occupational Physicians warns that 9 out of 10 employees are at risk of sleep disorders, burnout, and other stress-related psychological conditions, as well as chronic low-level stress. (9,10,11)
Deterioration of health
Increased stress goes hand in hand with declining health. The German Association of Occupational Physicians warns that 9 out of 10 employees in open-plan offices face increased risks of heart attacks, high blood pressure, and digestive problems. 38% of employees suffer from constant fatigue. (02)
We do not intend to fundamentally question the open-space concept. However, these facts clearly indicate that there is room for improvement. The core issue is clear: office noise distracts employees and leads to poorer results across almost all areas.
It is crucial to employee success. Work would be completed faster, more productively, and with higher quality. In addition, satisfaction and motivation would increase significantly. Quiet at work is the dream of every office worker.
This is not so simple, because the root of the problem must be addressed. Paradoxically, the source of the noise is the people in the office themselves. The majority of office noise is caused by human interaction, not mechanical sounds such as ringtones or printers. (12) Phone calls, meetings, and video conferences are a constant part of everyday office life.
Dr. Meis, a Swiss physician and occupational health specialist, explains: (13)
Mechanical noises, such as a ringing phone or keyboard typing, can be filtered out by the brain. Human communication — speech — cannot. Conversations between colleagues automatically reduce the concentration of those who overhear them by up to ten percent. Attention and performance decline involuntarily, without the affected person being able to prevent it.
You can hardly ban talking in the office — that would be impossible. This type of noise cannot simply be eliminated.
The solution is to create a dedicated space where this “noise” is welcome — a place where people can talk freely and hold conversations without disturbing others.
This is exactly the space we create at QuietOffice — and very successfully.
By using phone booths and meeting boxes, loud calls and meetings are given a dedicated space where they do not disturb anyone. For calls or meetings, employees simply step into an acoustic booth and speak freely. The sound is absorbed by the booth, and the rest of the office remains undisturbed.
Giving phone calls and meetings their own space is worthwhile. Because QuietOffice acoustic booths provide value in many ways.
More quiet in the office
Increased employee satisfaction and motivation
Less stress
Better concentration
Higher productivity (15–28%)
Increased creativity
Privacy and retreat spaces for confidential conversations
Then take a look at our acoustic booths — or request a quote today.
