TZUTC: -0500
MSGID: 1980.consprcy@1:2320/105 2dce39ea
PID: Synchronet 3.21a-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
TID: SBBSecho 3.28-Linux master/123f2d28a Jul 12 2025 GCC 12.2.0
BBSID: CAPCITY2
CHRS: ASCII 1
FORMAT: flowed
  A couple of points of interest:

  (1) When my most-recent employer brought us back into the office, part of
  their reasoning for doing so was to promote "loud talking" -- they thought
  it was a more collaborative and productive environment when we could "shout
  over the (cube) walls" at each other, which was something I didn't agree
  with.
  (2) The company who provided this research also sells office air quality
  monitors, something mentioned at the end.

Is a 'poor productivity climate' killing your efficiency? Most workers say
returning to the office is making us a lot less productive

Date:
Wed, 14 Jan 2026 16:15:00 +0000

Description:
New report uncovers the detrimental effects loud noise and poor air quality
can have on worker productivity.

FULL STORY

Workers are already speaking up against returning to the office, citing
reduced in-office productivity and the loss of flexibility, and new research
from Logitech backs that up  office distractions are said to be costing UK
businesses more than 330 million hours per year. 

Nearly three in four (71%) participants agreed office distractions reduce
productivity, with a quarter of them losing at least an hour a week due to
poor "productivity climate," such as noise, lighting, air quality, or 
outdated tech. 

In fact, noise was found to be the biggest productivity killer overall, with
loud talking (43%) and loud typing (21%) being particular bugbears.

Offices aren't exactly the right environment for productivity

More than two-thirds (69%) of the 2,000 hybrid and office-based workers
surveyed have argued with colleagues over noise levels, and more than half
(51%) have even moved seats or gone home because of office chatter. 

Besides the obvious, workers are also being affected by air quality. Stuffy
meeting rooms and poor ventilation are key productivity killers here. 

Looking ahead, it's clear that companies need to do more to improve the
in-office environment if they're to be enacting mass return-to-office
mandates. Around one-third each want fresh air ventilation systems (32%), 
more natural light (32%) and soundproof booths (31%). 

"The modern office must reflect the evolving needs of the people it hosts and
the work that goes on inside it," Logitech Head of Workplace Experience David
Houseman shared. 

The report also alludes to the use of biohacking to improve conditions, which
involves using data, science, and technology to optimize the workplace. 

Logitech's findings come around a year after the company launched Spot, a 
$499 office air quality monitor. 

======================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/most-workers-say-returning-to-the-office-is-maki
ng-us-a-lot-less-productive

$$
--- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (1:2320/105)
SEEN-BY: 105/81 106/201 128/187 129/14 305 153/7715 154/110 218/700
SEEN-BY: 226/30 227/114 229/110 134 206 300 307 317 400 426 428 470
SEEN-BY: 229/664 700 705 266/512 291/111 320/219 322/757 342/200 396/45
SEEN-BY: 460/58 633/280 712/848 902/26 2320/0 105 304 3634/12 5075/35
PATH: 2320/105 229/426