Think of a day at work where you have the assignment of generating a sales report from the previous quarter and on client opinions provided by the sales department. You most likely will need to get to your workplace sooner than normal, due to this important assignment. Now pretend that you have to work on this assignment while a co-worker keeps chatting about her date from hell on the previous Saturday. Of course you will not want to put up with such a useless conversation given the task at hand.

Work-related noise pollution can result from multiple causes but no matter where it originates, noise lessens your ability to work effectively. Also, noise pollution makes you stressed and can result in depression and other problems.

Having said that, many employees have to put up with office noise at some time or other in their working lives. Hence it is a good idea to be ready to better handle these possibilities. Realistically, if you have co-workers who spend too much time chatting about anything and everything, you might want to limit your time dealing with them. Be straightforward yet diplomatic in letting them know that their constant talking is disruptive. They might provide an apology, and will possibly also curtail their conversations with you in the future.

You can politely ask your IT staff to investigate sources of noise if a printer or fax machine near your workspace seems to be malfunctioning. One can assume that the unwanted noise is due to a malfunction, because companies spend millions making these electronics "noise-free". If qualified professionals service the machines, this can help reduce the noise.

Lots of offices are plagued with noises that come from the coffee machine. While the machine is there to provide convenient drinks, it can also provide high levels of background noise, which can distract a person from performing assigned tasks. If this is the case in your office, consider bringing the issue up with a supervisor or a colleague.

It is difficult to work in a noisy office, no matter how the noise originates. Yet there are numerous inexpensive noise reduction systems available for the majority of offices. Panels that absorb sound and extra-tall cubicle walls are useful in reducing both human and mechanical noise. Meeting areas and dining facilities are found in the corners, apart from work stations. Also high in effectiveness are soothing, unobtrusive noise machines, which fall under the heading of "white noise" or "sound masking". The most appropriate time to think about the use of this technique is during the office design, but modern systems can be retrofitted into most work areas with relative ease. The bottom line, though, is to take at least some kind of action to reduce office noise.

No matter where it originates, office noise is detrimental. It interferes with productivity and may trigger stress in employees, possibly even snowballing into more debilitating illnesses, including depression. It is difficult to work in a noisy office, no matter how the noise originates. Yet there are numerous inexpensive noise reduction systems available which fall under the heading of "sound masking." The most appropriate time to think about the use of this technique is during the office design, but modern systems can be retrofitted into most work areas with relative ease. The bottom line, though, is to take at least some kind of action to reduce noise in the office.