Music Do’s And Don’ts In The Workplace

Creating a positive and happy workplace culture

Music in the workplace is a powerful benefit for employees and customers alike. In fact, 65 percent of employers agree that music makes employees more productive, while research shows that 25 percent of retailers and 33 percent of hospitality companies would actually lose business without music.

Employers may be hesitant to add music to an office for a number of reasons, as there are many ways to do it wrong. However, workplace music can also offer employees an escape from their workdays by playing and listening to their favorite tunes together, which can also enhance the overall workplace culture. With the goal of creating a collaborative office space where productivity, satisfaction and happiness top the charts, here are four do’s and don’ts for adding music to the workplace.

Don’t let the company decide the playlist. Do empower employees to choose the music they want to hear.

Music in the workplace can be a powerful tool for engagement and productivity when done properly. However, if employers force employees to listen to music they don’t want to hear, it can prove distracting and detrimental to an employee’s work performance. Employers need to allow employees to collaboratively select and play their own music to build a positive workplace atmosphere. 

When employees have the opportunity to play their own music, they will ultimately be happier, more productive, and less stressed in the workplace. There is value in employee-selected music in an office, as it can help employees avoid burnout by taking breaks from projects and assignments to play their favorite songs. Additionally, workplace music can drive collaboration and allow employees to build social connections by contributing to an office playlist. Employers will benefit from employee-selected music in the workplace, as they will notice a change in the tune of their employees’ performance. 

Don’t blast it on a speaker, set it, and forget it. Do create a collaborative experience for employees to build meaningful relationships. 

Collaboration is a powerful tool in the workplace and music has the ability to unite and connect employees. As a result of the pandemic, nearly 80 percent of employees are using tools to collaborate, an increase of 44 percent since the pandemic began. Why not add a tool that offers collaboration between employees, while also providing a fun benefit that’s a win-win for everyone involved? 

Playing the same songs all day, every day creates monotony, ultimately decreasing employees’ creativity and innovation. With a space for collaboration that allows employees to gather and socialize (a la the modern-day “water cooler movement”), add their own music to the queue, work with other employees to develop an office-worthy playlist, and take micro-breaks throughout the day to listen to and discuss their favorite tunes, employers are taking significant steps to create a workplace culture that rocks.

Don’t add technology that is clunky, outdated and hard to use. Do add technology that complements the space.

There’s nothing worse than getting a box full of hand-me-down technology that’s old, worn and presents issues on a daily basis — your employees deserve better than that. An important factor to consider when deciding on workplace music is the technology that will be utilized when playing music, as well as ensuring proper music licensing to avoid potential fines. 

For example, a bluetooth speaker: sure, it may be small and can be placed out of the way, but it can also be hard to connect to, only one person can connect their phone and play music at a time, and no matter how much we want to believe the audio quality is good, it could always be better–and, when paired with a streaming service, can put businesses at risk of potential fines due to licensing. With a large and interactive screen, LED lights that catch the eye and bring energy to the room, options to customize by adding a company logo or colors, subscription-based model with unlimited plays, a fully licensed music catalog for business, and endless opportunities for employees to collaborate and connect, a modern jukebox is the next frontier in improving workplace cultures and happiness.

Don’t make it exclusive and enjoyable by only select employees. Do make it inclusive, with a diverse library and lyric-verified songs. 

In creating a collaborative workplace culture, employers need to build an environment that truly reflects their employees’ diverse backgrounds and interests while simultaneously offering employees a sense of belonging and inclusion. When workplace music is exclusive to or enjoyed by only a select number of employees, it may contribute to an overall negative environment. 

Music should be an outlet to celebrate and create bonds within the team and all employees should have the opportunity to contribute. Employers who show they care about inclusion and their diverse team will benefit in more ways than one, and this extends to music in the workplace by offering a large selection of diverse, lyric-verified songs. In fact, research shows that companies with ethnic and cultural diversity outperform by 36 percent in profitability. Providing a space for employees of all backgrounds to collaborate and engage will encourage a more inclusive, connected and satisfied team. 

At a time when companies are seeking opportunities to attract and retain top talent, offering enhanced and differentiated perks for employees, like music in the workplace, demonstrates an employer’s commitment to a positive and happy workplace culture. Adding music to the workplace can be a great benefit for employers, employees and their customers, and these do’s and don’ts will help focus your music priorities in the right direction.

Ross Honey is the President and CEO of TouchTunes. Ross leads the company’s strategy for innovation and market expansion.  Connect Ross Honey