Noise has become one of the greatest modern challenges, impacting concentration, productivity, employee and customer experience

Poly’s “Evolution of the Workplace” report in 2021 provides an analysis of the findings of a survey of 7,261 hybrid workers from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Poland, and the UAE.

The report suggests 37.2% of UAE employees are more concerned about noisy phone calls and meetings while 31.6% are worried about their noisy colleagues. 36% of the employees polled across the UAE also indicated that they will most likely get fed up if their noisy colleagues break their concentration with those in the healthcare sector at 53% expressing their concerns.

The following are the key findings of the study:

Office distractions are everywhere: phones ringing, calls, loud conversations, text alerts, pens clicking, and everything in between. Home offices or co-working spaces, coffee shops, your car, or airports have their share of distractions too. The nature of the noise may vary, but the challenge is the same: concentration and productivity suffer.

“We have collectively adapted to different work locations – remote, onsite, or a mix of the two but one challenge remains wherever we work from: unwanted background noise. It’s everywhere and it’s a problem,” said Bob Aoun, Regional Sales Director at Poly.

Noise doesn’t have to be a nuisance: Background noise rapidly becomes public enemy number one when you need to get your head down and focus. We have all been interrupted or distracted by washing machines, kitchen appliances, barking dogs, children, music, or the TV in neighboring rooms. The disruption negatively impacts our work. As a result, we have moved from coping mode, using any headset device to hand, to wanting the best tech possible. Lower quality, older technology, and devices create disparity, and they can undo all your hard work.

Don’t leave people to their own devices: Equip employees with the right devices and they’ll stay motivated and productive. Left to their own devices, you risk frustration and isolation. In today’s hybrid reality, it’s all about the experience, whenever or wherever you work. Clear, positive, uninterrupted conversations make lasting, positive impressions. Consistent, equal meeting experiences benefit workers your customers.

“Voice is such a powerful medium that hearing others properly and being understood brings satisfaction and meaning. Both of which are essential to successful communication and collaboration,” adds Aoun.