Dr Haake claimed that listening to music when sitting at a desk could improve mood, reduce distractions and “provide company” in a “too quiet” office environment – although at Perkbox that’s never the case anyway! She commented: “If music is forced upon people, it can be irritating and annoying, and we know from research that office noise can have severe negative effects on employee health, well-being and productivity.
“Enjoyed as a private activity, music in offices can be seen by employees as a perk; a positive route to personal happiness and well-being. What’s more, it’s a clever way to help manage work environments and minimise interruptions; a cost effective way to combat stress; and a positive technique for encouraging employee self-care.”
The findings:
However despite this, the research found that 38% are not allowed music at work. Consequently, 84% who are not allowed to listen to music would benefit from doing so and 59% say listening to music at work improves their mental well-being.
Based on the findings, the most popular genre of music in the workplace was pop or chart (35%), followed by rock (26%), rap (18%), electronic (12%) and finally classical (7%). Only 1% said they didn’t like music. Looking at these results, Dr Anneli Haake and Deezer created a playlist for workers to help with their working day.
“Music in the workplace can have a positive effect on employee productivity.”
The top tracks
According to HR Grapevine, this was the collated list for optimum productivity:
- Porcelain – Moby
- One Dance – Drake, Wizkid, Kyla
- Fast Car – Jonas Blue, Dakota
- Lean On – Major Lazer, DJ Snake
- Angels – The XX
- Heartbeats – José González
- 7 – Catfish and the Bottlemen
- King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar
- At Night (I Think About You) – MNEK
- Learn to Fly – Foo Fighters
- Loose Men – Torche
- Sugar Daddy Jam – D’Angelo
- Run – Tourist
- News From Veronica – Portico Quartet
John Salt, Director at totaljobs, concluded: “Music in the workplace can have a positive effect on employee productivity. If your employer discourages music in your workplace, they may be putting themselves at a disadvantage as a business.”
Are your allowed to listen to music at work? What would be your top tracks?
Post by Sonia Rach, editor and employee happiness evangelist at Perkbox.
Replies
It isn't necessarily a play list as such but Noisli provides loads of sounds to help you focus
My favourite is the coffee shop but I also like to work listening to a fire crackling
https://www.noisli.com/
Check it out :)
The Music Library on my phone ranges from Suzanne Vega to Slayer....Im not certain how my eclectic work day would go!
I'm currently editing this weeks' community update listening to Radio X - Now Playing... Last Nite by The Strokes