About 70 percent of US companies have adopted an open office. The benefit of having an open office is that it maximizes space while keeping down costs, since it reduces the cost per square foot of each employee. But the amount of distractions employees encounter could often hurt productivity.

A  recent study suggests that distractions have the potential to cause 86 minutes of lost productivity a day. So to get the most out of your employees workday, try recommending a few of these tips to eliminate distractions in your open office to achieve a productive, positive office environment.

TURN OFF COMPUTER SOUNDS

Computer sounds are a major source of interruption and are distracting for many employees.

WORK AT NON-PEAK TIMES

Stagger your employees schedules. Besides creating a quiet office, flexible schedules are also viewed as a benefit amongst employees and new hires which will help you recruit top talent as well.

NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES

Noise cancelling headphones have become a must-have in office accessories.  By wearing noise cancelling headphones, it indicates that the employee is busy and doesn’t want to be interrupted, as well as eliminates background noises within the office.

MASK THE SOUND BY INCREASING BACKGROUND NOISE

This one may sound a little funny, increasing noise will eliminate it?  It actually works.  White noise (like a small fan running at your employees’ desks), makes conversations sound unintelligible to the listener.

QUIET ZONES

Most companies who have an open office, have incorporated areas that are quiet zones.  This is a designated area for those that have an important task to be completed and do not want to be interrupted.