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Sound masking essentials for speech privacy in open offices and health care environments.
Open floor spaces are now the rage. Their trendy, minimalist design appears artsy and chic, which may impress a visiting client, but working without walls can be maddening. There's a severe lack of privacy. Although these contemporary designs may be very conducive to socializing and collaborating, they can make it insanely difficult to concentrate. In fact, headphones have now become the modern hardhat. Digital workers rely on them for insulation from the constant chatter they can't escape.
WHY IS THE LACK OF SPEECH PRIVACY A PROBLEM?
It's not just noise that's a nuisance. In fact, according to a study by the Center for the Built Environment at UC Berkeley, people are significantly more dissatisfied with sound privacy than noise level.1 Conversations are really distracting. That's the biggest drawback of open floor spaces; there's absolutely no speech privacy, and this negatively affects productivity in the workplace. Employees may waste time searching for a spot where they can have a private chat-including going outside which can be really unpleasant on a cold or rainy day. But, even worse, in the heat of the moment, discussions meant to happen behind closed doors may just erupt and be heard by others nearby. Recent studies show that 53% of employees report having overheard confidential information at the office. 2 If sensitive information is discovered, this can create serious repercussions to a business.
When employees are surrounded by constant conversation and lots of distractions, they often feel anxious and dissatisfied. "New commercial buildings are now LEED certified and energy efficient to achieve a small carbon footprint. This is great for the environment, but what...