Showerthought: Why does nobody talk about noise levels in coworking spaces?

I was at a spot in Denver last week and this guy took a Zoom call right next to the quiet zone. Like, full speakerphone. The manager just shrugged. I started checking decibel levels with a phone app and found regular areas hit 70db during peak hours. Has anyone else dealt with coworkers who treat open layouts like their living room?

3 comments

3 Comments

ben_fisher3d ago

You mentioned "a good pair of headphones handles most of the problem," and I get that, but my buddy Mark found out the hard way that it's not always enough. He was grinding on a deadline at a WeWork in Austin, had his noise-cancelling cans on full blast, and this guy two desks over decided to take a client call on speakerphone - the full echoey speakerphone. Mark said the guy's voice cut through everything, like a dentist drill you can't escape. He tried turning up his music to drown it out, but his ears started aching after thirty minutes. Finally he just gave up, packed his laptop, and finished the project from his car in the parking lot. So yeah, sometimes no amount of headphones fixes a bad setup.

sanchez.ivan3d ago

Coworking spaces are inherently social environments, so some noise is just part of the deal. A good pair of headphones (I use cheap earplugs under over-ears, which works great) handles most of the problem without needing management to police every conversation. Maybe the real issue is expectations, not decibel levels.

abby_fisher3d ago

Isn't it funny how people act like noise is just something you have to accept? I get what you're saying @sanchez.ivan, but I really feel for the folks who struggle with sensory stuff or just can't focus with chatter in the background. It's not always about being high-maintenance, you know? Some days you just need a quiet space to get your thoughts straight, and that's not too much to ask. I've been in loud coworking spots where even good headphones weren't enough, and it just made me feel kind of helpless. So yeah, while headphones help, I think there's room for places to be a little more balanced about it.