Culture | Sounds like Christmas - six pointers to creating harmony in the workplace

You know the Christmas countdown has begun when you hear the strains of Noddy Holder and Slade drifting from every shop, radio station and workplace and although a little festive merriment can be great for lifting spirits, when is it appropriate to turn down the volume?

An office working environment can be a delicate balance at the best of times. People work differently, some find musical accompaniment provides a soothing or upbeat aural ‘wallpaper’ to their day. In some work places it is an accepted part of the workplace: from providing atmosphere within vacuous warehouses to the rhythmic orchestration of traditional typing pools.

However, some individuals prefer the sound of silence. Those who need to apply high-levels of concentration in their work may not find a random wall of sound conducive to activity and it is not just music that proves an irritant.

A recent report* found that 60% of workers believed that noise ruined their productivity and a third of those polled claimed that they’ve snapped at their boss because of incessant noise pollution.
Legally, employers have a duty to ensure that noise levels in the workplace meet certain requirements. The Control of Noise at Work Regulations came into force for Great Britain on April 6 2006, with the aim of ensuring that workers' hearing is protected from excessive noise, but it isn’t just loud noise that affects workers.