Do you ever stop to think that your workplace has a “signature sound” that is as distinctive as your business brand? Now, you have the opportunity to be part of a worldwide experiment that puts office noise in perspective. The University of Salford in the UK is creating a map of sounds from around the world. Users can download a free app and use it to record their local “soundscape” to contribute to the map. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA’s EU equivalent) is encouraging employees to record workplace noise. Participants don’t just record and upload sounds. They also comment on the quality. There are sliding scales for rating noises as pleasant vs. unpleasant, boring vs. exciting, chaotic vs. tranquil, etc.

How would your workplace be rated? Have you ever asked your employees how they feel about their office soundscape? You might be surprised by what they tell you.