“Humans are, on the whole, social animals and we benefit from being together. However, our time away from the traditional workplace over the last couple of years, has taught us all about how we respond to sound.Three quarters of workers list noise as an important workplace consideration,so it should be no surprise that many people are reluctant to return to their old noisy offices.

Not being ‘able to concentrate’ is often cited by people as a reason to stay homeand evidence backs them up. The Udemy Workplace Distraction report states that people are 52% more productive when not working in a noisy officeand research by the University of California shows it takes, on average, 23 minutes, to refocus on a task after being distracted.

Pre-pandemic, office spaces trended towards more open collaborative spaces bringing the consequences of a noisy office being a fact of life. Now, after experiencing the uninterrupted joy of a quiet house, employers may have to redesign workplace environments using zoning and quieter podsif they want their people to come together to work in one place again.

Creating comfortable noise levels in the workplace promoteswellbeing as well as productivity. Exposure to excessive noise can lead to increased stress, sleep deprivation and low energy levels. Sensitivity to sound is built into human DNA and, for the estimated 30-40% of each workforce who are neurodivergent, the impact of sound can be genuinely distressing.

Fortunately, there have been significant advances in acoustics – bothin the minimisation of noise transmission from one space to another and the control of the characteristics of sound within spaces themselves. It’s now possible to source sustainable, locally-made products for walls, floors and ceilings as well as zoning products, furniture and accessories which help us manage how sound travels.

As we navigate this new era of flexible working I’m looking forward to more conversations with interior designers and architects about how a space feels and sounds, as well as what it looks like.

You can contact Morgan Doouss directly on +44(0)20 3889 9888 or by emailing hello@allsfar.com or visit www.allsfar.com