FC NOW: The Fast Company Weblog
December 1, 2005
Killer Offices?
Bosses can be bad for your health, but is your office a potential killer, too? Researchers in Europe recently found a link between workplace noise and heart attacks, identifying a threshold of some 60 decibels -- about the volume of a typical busy office. A loud workplace can raise the risk of heart attack for men by nearly a third, the study found. There was no increased risk for women.
Worse still, ambient city noises alone, like commuter traffic or air conditioners, may also boost the risk for both sexes -- three-fold for women and up to 50% for men, according to the study.
Lead researcher Dr. Stefan Willich said noise combined with "smoking or pressure from meeting deadlines" deepen stress and anger, leading to physiological changes in the body. Current allowable levels of workplace noise, about 85 decibels, is equivalent to a construction site, Willich said.
Posted by Angus Loten at December 1, 2005 6:32 PM | Category: work-life balance |
7 Comments
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I enjoyed reading your article! I believe that this may be very true.
Also, I believe that the issue of "Office Violence" is swept under the rug! "Office Violence" occurs more than most employees, supervisors/manager and researchers believe.
I went to work as a State of Washington employee and I was assaulted and shoved out a door based on a third party hate campaign. My employer promised me the right and freedom to attend work
at my official duty station free from violence;
I was attacked again and denied my paycheck without cause. To this day I'm pleading with the
State of Washington to arrest Gloria Kramer (for
assaulting me) Jim Sherill,and John Lein for allowing her and enabling her to assault staff members. Another staff member and her son stole
our home (real estate valued at $75K another
staff member committed custodial interference and child kidknapping of my minor daughters during a time that they were at their father's home. (Joint legal custody agreement.).
I have also given a "Corrective Action" with warnings of "Disciplinary Action" and/or requests
for arrests due to staff members arguing and being near violence in the workplace.
I have also requested a criminal investigation of
a staff member involving illegal substance abuse.
Most of my money has been spent on attorney and legal fees attempting to sue for damages for my
daughters and myself until I nearly died of starvation. I have also been a victim of a shooting, I was kidknapped, threatened with more beatings and shootings by John Dorsey and Martin J. Fields at work places in the private sector.
Chris Gregoire is highly critical of women like myself who have begged for food stamps and welfare but, at the same time she has prevented me from fair treatment as a State of Washington
employee, laid off employee (Call back and RIF options),mother, wife and USAF dependent wife.
Also my daughters have a serious health problem that is a birth defect; one has had corrective surgery and I'm in fear for their safety and their general health.
Due to a reorganization of the Dept. of Ecology she was technically my second line supervisor at
one time. Ms. Gregoire is now the Govenor of Washington.
Also, my aging parents and executor of my father's estate claimed extreme financial losses
due to a left or bilk of more than $100,000.00 by
staff members of the State of Washington.
Office politics and criminal activity on the part of my husband James C. Liley, JR have destroyed my life.
I'm now self-employed due to being a victim of "Office Violence". I'm struggling financially
part of the time but, I'm safer working. I have
less net income but, I haven't had any episodes
of people being violent as a self-employed individual. Self employment may be the solution
for many individuals that are victims of work place crimes or intolerable situations that create adverse health problems.
I had found that as a State of Washington employee my personal and financial losses were exceeding my gross earnings.
I hope someone will do more to address the issue
of "Office Violence" and criminal activity within
government offices. (All geographic locations.)
I'm involved in a quiet, safe lobby against violence. )(Domestic and office violence.)
Thank you for the opportunity to bring some attention to violent workgroups.
Best wishes,
April Miller
apmiller18@msn.com
303-234-1086
People set up offices to do business.And it is with their team.The basic sense of office decorum does not permit noise level beyond a particular point and every one will agree.Yes stress may come because of challenges faced to meet the target or the deadline.Modern offices are well equipped and that is the reason good and deserving people are always in demand.The site of office also carrys significance ,and to remain and improve in business ,business offices are chosen to be located at preferred places only.
I think it's problem hasn't a decision for this time. So it's only talking, and nobody can change anything.
Office noise levels continue to increase as a result of density (Dilbert would LOVE this...;-)
Those precious few companies that focus on instilling employee productivity by creating effective, individualized work environments will, in the end, thrive.
Always.
And employee attrition? What's THAT? Treat your people right, from their cube to the noise levels to the incremental perks like free food and drink and nap times and you'll see the organism we call The Office becoming ever stronger.
A great example of a winning organization I've had an opportunity to watch from the outside is PRWeb.com.
If there's an example of trickle-down leadership, it's there. Founder David McInnis has turned-down big-dollar offers to ensure that his company culture remains people-centric.
There are cold drinks, fresh coffee, regular breaks and a happy buzz about the place. And the ethics and principles are unmatched in business (David, Mick, Joel and Kathy, the founder and management team) are the kinds of people you can do a handshake deal with and not have to worry about getting screwed.
And they're in Washington State, April.
As for noise: individual physiologies handle those elements differently... but overall, peace is preferred over noise, and harmony to distractions.
It's an important issue, and it's the resp[onsibility of every manager and company owner to not just fill positions, but make those positions comfortable and copacetic for the individual who fills them.
Your thoughts?
Best of success,
Mark Alan Effinger
RichContent.com
I think that this ptoblem actual in small offices!
The office noise can destruct the nerves system.I use the chillout music to relax after office noise and that help me.
This problem is very big in our office. I think
that how the company to concern to workers. If the company to care of them the office will not be killer.