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Nearly two-thirds of office workers have worked from home to escape office noise
Calibre Furniture said 69% of respondents struggle to concentrate at work, while 72% reported no designated quiet zones in their offices.
- In a June 2026 survey of 327 UK office workers, 63% reported working from home specifically to escape noise, a trend Calibre Furniture identifies as the 'Return-to-Office Paradox.'
- Hybrid work models have exacerbated the issue, as 73% of employees report open-plan offices becoming significantly noisier due to fewer sound-absorbing bodies and persistent desk-based video calls.
- Only 31% of staff believe their employer takes noise seriously, with 72% of workplaces lacking designated quiet zones; just 12% of offices underwent acoustic assessment and only 6% received treatment.
- Dave Robbins, managing director at Calibre Office Furniture & Interiors, suggests implementing 'breakout areas where collaboration and calls are expected' alongside designated quiet zones to address the problem.
- While British Standard BS 8233:2014 specifies ambient noise levels for offices, 72% of workers remain unaware of these regulations, leaving a substantial gap that drives employees seeking concentration to default to home.
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Total News Sources44
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center37Last UpdatedBias Distribution95% Center
Bias Distribution
- 95% of the sources are Center
95% Center
C 95%
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