The studies it cited noted that upbeat tracks have been associated with more cooperative group behaviour, suggesting that carefully designed soundscapes may influence team dynamics as well as individual output.
“Employers often underestimate how much a sound environment contributes to staff wellbeing,” said Laurence Coen, an audiologist and co-founder at Hearology, in the article.
“Anyone who’s seen the Duettino – Sull’aria from The Marriage of Figaro transfix an entire prison inmate population in The Shawshank Redemption understands the profound impact that music can have on a group of people!”
How to make music work at work
Kathleen Keeler, an assistant professor at Ohio State and co-author of the studies cited by Hearology, noted the challenge faced by employers when it comes to music at work.
“Employers need to try to balance making their music appealing to both customers and employees because that is not a trivial matter. If employees are unhappy, it doesn’t do the business any good,” Keeler said as quoted in the Hearology article.