Jul/Aug 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

OpenOfficeDilemma By Martin Vilaboy Despite the good intentions in offering a more vibrant and open work- place, open layouts also present some challenges, and we are beginning to see a backlash against the concept. For starters, this workspace evolution also has resulted in increased noise levels and a decrease in the average space allocated to each employee. In turn, open workspaces often cause distractions, affecting focus and decreasing people’s productivity up to 28 percent, according to studies by NOIAP. Research from Harvard Busi- ness Review , meanwhile, suggests open workspaces can result in em- ployees spending less time interacting in person when compared to the more traditional office layouts, as usage of inter-office email actually increases in open-plan settings. What’s more, as much as three in 10 respondents said they are dissatis- fied with the open workspace noise, shows HBR research, while 63 percent said loud colleagues was there number one distraction while working. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (89 percent) said they are more productive when working alone. As it turns out, the proper headset can relieve some of these open-space frustrations, while at the same time enhancing productivity. “The office space per person has declined over the past 20 years and open offices are on the rise, making it harder for us to concentrate without being interrupted by our co-worker,” said Theis Mork, vice president of product manage- ment, enterprise solutions at Sennheiser. “Our latest study shows that 29 percent of office workers use a headset when they need to concentrate.” Of those who do use a headset to help them concentrate, 60 percent bring their own private headset into the office to use. Sennheiser surveys of some 2,500 employees throughout several countries also found that 13 percent of responding office workers started using a headset or changed to a new model because of increased office noise. About a quarter of respondents listed noise cancellation as one of their three most important criteria when evaluating a headset. Sennheiser has responded to the challenges and demands of modern work life with its new MB 360 UC Blue- tooth headset. Its ANC technology reduces background noises, thereby helping professionals increase their work focus. Over-the-ear wearing style with soft ear pads further add noise damping, and with a talk time of up to 25 hours, the soft ear pads ensure excellent comfort even after hours of wearing. Meanwhile, the double-sided headset connects to a mobile device and is optimized for unified communication, said Mork. “According to our data, 27 percent of today’s office workers prefer to listen to music while working. A mod- ern headset should therefore not just ensure great call quality but also a premium audio experience,” he contin- ued. “Sennheiser’s MB 360 UC Blue- tooth headset comes with premium sound quality and empowers its users to work to their own soundtrack from anywhere – on the train, at the airport, or in the traditional office space.” o T he traditional office layout is often thought of as a mix of cubicles and private offices. However, in the last decade there has been a transition to open-plan designs. According to commercial real estate development association NOIAP, open-plan offices make up around 70 percent of all U.S. workspaces, as companies look to foster employee interaction and thereby boost creativity. Core Communications The right headset may enhance productivity in open-office environments Sennheiser MB 360 UC 22 Channel Vision | July - August, 2019