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outdated tech.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.

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

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