Oscar Acoustics | 2026 Campaign for Growth

Poor acoustic design: the invisible enemy killing office productivity

New research from Oscar Acoustics reveals how workplace noise is damaging business performance.

We surveyed 2,000 UK office employees to understand the real impact of poor acoustics on productivity, wellbeing and workplace culture. The findings are alarming, and most employers have no idea how much it is costing them.

Employees lose an average of 26 minutes of productivity each day: amounting to over three weeks per person each year.
Vast numbers admit to delivering work late or to a lower standard.
Many are considering or actively seeking alternative employment due to excessive workplace noise.
Some even admit to resorting to physical violence as a result of noise-induced stress.

There is a pressing need for more inclusive workspaces where acoustic design is integrated from the start, not added as an afterthought.

This April, we’re publishing the full research report revealing the full scale of the issue.

Be first to access the research