Music at Work: When It Helps and When It Hurts
Workplace music tangibly impacts workers, yet it’s often left to chance by playing the radio or streaming playlists made for customers. Misaligned audio has negative consequences for employees: it can decrease mood and lead to cognitive depletion , a new Ohio State University (OSU) study details. According to Kathleen Keeler , co-lead author of the study and assistant professor of management and human resources at OSU, “Music misfit can lead employees to feel more fatigued, have trouble focusing and not really enjoy being at work.” Workplace playlists have a well-earned bad rap, and it raises the question: How does a company use music well? The short answer? Allow employees control over auditory input on an individual level. The holistic answer requires a look at the fascinating history of workplace music, sound’s impact on the brain and the technology that can help everyone harmonize. Learning from workplace music history Music and labor were intertwined long ...