Towergate Liability Insurance analysed Spotify data and surveyed 2,000 UK employees to reveal the relationship workers have with music while working.
The study shows one in two people listen to music more often since lockdowns began with UK employees believing it positively impacts their office lives.
Employees surveyed came from industries such as construction, property, design, creative arts, engineering, manufacturing, finance, banking, accountancy, and healthcare.
What Are The Benefits Of Listening To Music At Work?
Over half (54%) of those surveyed said listening to music at work improves their mental health and happiness. Over half (56%) also stated it improves their mood and two-thirds said it helps them focus and get work done quicker.
Additionally, 43% believe that music helps reduce boredom with the benefits impacting more men (44%) than women (42%).
The research highlighted that the younger generations appreciate the benefits of music the most. Over one in nine (95%) of 18 to 24-year-olds are able to focus and work faster, compared to 67% of 35 to 44-year-olds who said the same.
It has the greatest motivational impact on 25 to 35-year-olds (25%) followed by staff aged 55 and above (12%), trying to avoid the workplace blues.
Does Music Genre Matter?
Pop music was found to be the favourite genre across all industries, followed by rock and classical music. This is with the exception of construction where employees favour rock music.
The only industry where workers claim listening to music out loud is their preferred method was healthcare. All other industries prefer to play music through personal headphones.
Previous research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that mental health problems are prevalent in the construction industry.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of those in construction and property say that listening to music at work helps improve their mood, and 27% say it impacts their happiness. This shows that music can help with mental health issues.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming, hypnosis, Time Line Therapy®, positive psychology and coach trainer, Rebecca Lockwood, an expert on music and mental health says: “When we listen to music it creates an intentional representation in our mind which then gives us a feeling.
“Depending on the kind of music you are listening to will determine how you feel. Listening to music that makes you feel good will have a great impact on your mental health because it creates an internal perception that leaves you feeling good which would be great to boost office morale.
“If you were to listen to music that left you feeling sad or down then this could have a negative effect on your mental health as you are creating internal perceptions in your mind that are leaving you feeling worse or the same as you were before which could then lead to you feeling less productive or potentially distract you from the work that you are doing.”
Music Makes Employees More Confident And Aware
The survey provides evidence that a shift in the awareness of clean and safe workplaces will be at the forefront of employee concerns.
Over two-thirds (70%) of those surveyed said they would be more likely to ask future employers about their health and hygiene policies and implementation before accepting future jobs.
Music and work have always been intertwined,” says Alison Wild, head of marketing at Towergate SME.
“Most people enjoy listening to music of some kind, it’s perfectly natural to feel that music must have some sort of positive impact on our work.”
Alison continues: “Music has many benefits in the workplace, it helps us make the day go quicker, makes us feel good, improves the working environment, motivates us, and therefore helps us get through with otherwise boring tasks.
”Music has always created a sense of togetherness, that’s why many turn to it during a crisis. Music can help boost your productivity by putting you in a better mood, combatting stress and anxiety, while we are all working from home.
“From the survey we conducted, we found that 48% of the public listen to more music while working now than before the pandemic.
“Furthermore, when questioned, 54% of respondents accredited music for making them feel happier and having a positive effect on their mental health while on the job.”
