Here at OBEX, we’ve blogged a lot about how you can dole out cubicle extenders based on employee preference for more or less privacy. But sometimes, it’s not the nature of the worker that makes a difference. The noise level of the work being done in a space can also indicate a need for higher walls to add acoustic shielding. Here are just a few examples of noisier work:

• Stapling
• Hole punching
• Printing on a desktop printer
• Constant data entry (keyboard tapping)

You can’t really fault workers for making these sounds. It’s just the equipment they have to use.

Of course, the behavioral noises that get on the nerves of coworkers are another matter:

• Rustling snack food packaging
• Eating chips
• Playing hold music on the speaker phone
• Slurping coffee or other beverages
• Clipping fingernails

These annoying habits that aren’t essential to work duties should probably be addressed with a polite reprimand. But if that doesn’t do the trick, you could at least put up some panels to keep everyone else happy…