Returning to the office has been a tough transition for some employees because of the distractions. Overall, we seem to be more sensitive to printer sounds, coworker conversations, and other noises. But believe it or not, some businesses are making bank on providing solutions to our frustrations… 

Solutions for Office Distractions are Becoming Big Business

Over the past year, a massive shift has occurred from remote to onsite work. Even tech giants like Google and X (formerly Twitter) are changing their minds about working from home. 

YET, OFFICE DISTRACTIONS HAVE BECOME A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE MEANTIME. 

A survey from Leesman found that noise levels were rated in the top 10 most important features of an office. However, only 32% of workers said they were happy with the amount of noise in the workplace. 

With that in mind, employers invest a lot of money in various solutions. And companies are ready and willing to provide options. 

For example, furniture store IKEA is launching a series of office furniture to reduce the impact of noise distractions. They have incorporated noise-reducing wood fiber materials for this purpose. 

Still, some companies are going for more expensive options… 

Framery — an office pod company from Finland — manufactures and produces office “pods” that start at $8,700. The brand had a profit of $164 million in 2022. 

Nevertheless, Framery says that no sound can also be a distraction — and they have an answer for that, too… 

Not All Office Noises are Created Equal (Or are Distractions)

Last March, Framery introduced a new model that “sound masks.” The purpose of sound masking is to keep your brain from calling attention to complete silence. 

The company’s CEO, Samu Hallfors, commented in Forbes: 

“THE NOISE LEVEL ITSELF? YES, THAT’S KIND OF A PROBLEM, BUT THE REAL PROBLEMATIC THING ABOUT NOISE IS WHEN YOUR BRAIN CATCHES A FAMILIAR WORD.”

So, with all these expenses around and this seemingly isolating technology, is there a point in coming into an office? 

Keeping the Purpose of Being Onsite in Mind

To answer this question, we have to go back to the basics of why we work alongside colleagues in the first place… 

STRONG COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION. 

A part of that is finding ways to minimize office distractions while not making ourselves unavailable. Therefore, invest in these tools if they improve production but remember…

No company becomes successful without people working together. 

Be Great,

GCTV Staff

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