Printers stutter through their process in a pattern that makes you wonder why your colleague needs so many copies of the same thing, or reminds you that you have a few things to print. The whirring of the coffee machine will often make you check your cup, take a sip, or think about your favorite Italian espresso bar near the office. Water cooler conversations float across the room sparking interesting or annoying thoughts in the minds of all those in earshot. Office noise is a disruptive reality for the productive workplace. “Noise can affect people in a number of ways – it has the power to influence our health, wellbeing, mental state and performance. Raised levels of sound can result in physiological changes including raised blood pressure, increased heart rate, hearing loss and stress,” explains Colin Stuart of workplace consultancy Baker-Stuart. While the research is limited, office noise appears to have a strong and complex […]