(Photo Credit: Sigmund)

Music’s Effect at Work

Just like setting the temperature of the thermostat in an office triggers lots of opinions, so does music being broadcast throughout the workplace. Some employees are annoyed by music, while others feel that upbeat tunes improve their morale. So let’s examine the effects that music has at work.

The main thing is that the setting matters. Upbeat music can improve performance for workers who are engaged in repetitive tasks, such as in a factory. Also, studies show that a surgeon’s work is more precise when he or she is listening to music they enjoy during surgery.

However, in an open office environment where there are already layers of background noise and conversation, adding music on top of that can actually become a distraction for some employees and hinder their concentration and ability to multitask. In this scenario, either no music at all or just instrumental music is best. That way the brain isn’t also trying to focus on the lyrics.

Another option would be to encourage employees to wear headphones so they can choose to experience quiet when they need to concentrate on a complex task or they can tune in to music that suits their mood that day at a volume that feels comfortable to them. While this personalized approach is a great solution, headphones are recommended over ear buds as they are less likely to contribute to hearing loss since sounds are further from the inner ear.