How Managers Use Sound Masking to Promote Harmonious Working Relationship among Their Employees

One of the tougher challenges that a manager faces is how to keep peace inside the office.  He should not allow individual differences and petty prejudices hinder the growth of his business.  Literally, there is peace inside the office when bickering is non-existent and everyone strives to work harmoniously with his peers.

However, when eavesdropping becomes a pastime and speech privacy is threatened, it is about time that employers should rethink about their office acoustics plan or consider the installation of sound masking system.

"Faces of distractions".  Noise distractions come in all forms and sizes.  From an infamous office employee who hops from one cubicle to another weaving gossip, to the boisterous laughter of another who cannot keep the fun to himself, to foot traffic, opening and closing of doors, ringing of the phone or the incessant buzzing sound of the fax machine or the office printer - these are noise distractions that can make employees feel restless and unable to focus on their work.  Their frustration can get worse when at the end of the day they seemed to have accomplished little.  Many people can have short fuses when they are disappointed, and oftentimes this is just the ember that can start an office squabble.

Disappointment can also leave them feeling stressed out and listless.  A few more weeks and they could be lining outside the doctor's clinic, wondering what virus hits them.  If noise is a virus, it is a vicious one; it just keeps on coming back, until you decide to get rid of its source.  However, turning off the source of the noise is not always feasible.  You would not put duct tape on the mouth of an office blabber (unless she is your mother-in-law) would you?.

An employee's downtime is never good for business.  Studies revealed that each employee loses about two hours to office distractions, everyday.  In 2008 alone, companies lost over a billion dollars to sick leaves, vacation leaves and medical costs.  

The Inevitable Solution

Why not treat the problem right at its source?  If noise poses risk on your employees' health and creates a gaping hole in your company's coffers due to low productivity, sound masking may just be the solution you need.