Basically, there are many sources of distraction in an open-plan office: Conversations between colleagues, phone calls, meetings and many more. The majority of these distractions are caused by noise. Usually produced by your own colleagues.
There is a very simple solution to this problem: Quietoffice telephone boxes. During phone calls or team meetings, you simply go into one of the phone boxes. The resulting "noise" is absorbed by the soundproof acoustic boxes. - No one in the office is disturbed or distracted.
It is relatively clear that these telephone booths have great benefits. But is the purchase worthwhile from an economic point of view? We will get to the bottom of this question below. We refer to international research and studies.
In another article, we went into great detail about the benefits of acoustic boxes. In this article, we will only briefly repeat the benefits of telephone booths and focus on the calculation.
The benefits of telephone booths can be broken down into directly measurable benefits and indirectly measurable benefits.
A highlight in every OpenSpace: QuietOffice V3 Click here for more photos.
Increase in productivity. A quieter working atmosphere makes employees 15 to 28% more productive. (1) This may sound rather unrealistic at first, but every working day about 1.5 hours of working time are lost due to these type of distractions. (2) After a distraction, it takes 20 minutes until you are fully focused again. (3) By reducing the sources of distractions, productivity is thus greatly increased.
Reduction of sick days. The psychological stress that occurs in open-plan offices with constant interruptions and noise has been proven to result in twice as many sick days as in quieter offices. (4)
Savings on rental costs. The use of office pods circumvent the construction of new rooms with expensive partitioning walls. In addition, a lot of rental space can be saved. 30% of all meeting rooms are being used by only one person. And that is not very cost effective at all. Phone booths have the same benefits: Call and work in peace. But this, at only a fraction of the cost, because now 30% of the space normally required for meeting rooms is saved. In addition, the installation of office pods often means that unused space, such as corridors or space under stairs, finally gets used.
This discreet and stylish office is perfectly complemented by the organic form of QuietOffice V2. Click here for more photos.
Increase employee satisfaction. Almost every employer would confirm the following statement: "Our employees are our greatest asset." - But in reality, employees are not as satisfied as the employer would like them to be. In Germany every second employee would like to change jobs. (5) It may come as a surprise, but by far the biggest killer of employee satisfaction is noise at the office. (6) By reducing office noise, all employees get happier. And this satisfaction pays off:
Harvard Business Review reports: (7)
Satisfied employees work 31% more productively.
Satisfied employees sell 37% more.
Satisfied employees work 19% more accurately.
Reduction of the fluctuation rate. The fluctuation rate indicates how many employees leave the company per year. The fluctuation rate is thus an indicator of employee satisfaction. Satisfied employees do not think about quitting. Nevertheless 50% of all Germans would like to change jobs. The investment in a working environment that satisfies the employees is therefore of immeasurable value. The management consultancy Wolf I.O. Group GmbH came to a truly astonishing result: On average, fluctuation costs reach up to €36,000 per employee. (8) In our calculation, however, we do not incorporate these extra savings.
These are just a few examples of how QuietOffice office pods contribute to a better working environment in open-plan offices and thus bring great benefits.
Relaxation and fun at work with QuietOffice Phone. It is also important to be able to take it easy. Click here for more photos.
Now to the correct calculation. We have the following fictitious situation:
Max Mustermann GmbH has 10 employees who work in an open-plan office. The average salary of the 10 employees is €2500 (net). The boss, Max Mustermann, decides to solve the noise problem with a telephone box (QuietOffice V1) and a meeting box (QuietOffice Meet-G) from QuietOffice.
Was the investment economically worthwhile?
We do the math. The data is based on international studies. We calculate with conservative figures. In reality, therefore, even more is saved.
In the calculation, we only look at the directly measurable changes:
Increase in productivity
Reduction of days off work
Savings in rental costs
The elegant QuietOffice Meet-G meeting box. Click here for more photos.
By resting in the office, employees can concentrate better and are less distracted. Work is also carried out more accurately. Productivity is expected to increase by 15 to 28%, which means that better results are achieved in less time. You save working time.
We expect an increase in productivity of only 5%.
There is an average of 18.1 working days per month (holidays and other work-free days already deducted). (9)
18.1 days * 5% increase in productivity = 0.905 days saved working time per month
0.905 days saved working time * 10 employees = 9.05 days total saved working time per month
9.05 days * 12 months = 108.6 days saved working time per year.
The working time per employee in one year is 217.2 days.
108.6 days saved per year / 217.2 working days saved per year = 0.5 years of working time saved
This means that as much working time as is equivalent to one additional employee for half a year is being saved. The team of 10 employees thus achieves as much through the increase in productivity as would otherwise be the case with 10.5 employees.
2500€ monthly salary * 6 months = 15.000€ wage costs.
15.000€ (net) wage costs are saved.
Modern phone booth meets oldtimer. Click here for more photos.
Let's be honest: If you're constantly stressed at work and not motivated, then a few times a year you'll simply take sick leave. And unfortunately this is expensive for the employer.
Peace and quiet at the office solves this problem. Employees have less psychological strain and stress, as the noise level decreases and people get distracted less often.
As a result, energy levels rise and employees are more motivated to work and are less likely to take sick leave.
The AOK writes the following in its annual absence report: (10)
"People who are satisfied with their work miss 9.4 days at work. If they are not, they are absent roughly 19.4 days."
In our calculation we assume a reduction in absenteeism from 19.4 days to 14 days per year. Each employee has a reduction in absenteeism of only 5.4 days.
5.4 days * 10 employees = 54 days reduced absenteeism per year
54 days / 18.1 working days per month = rounded up 3 months reduced absenteeism
The reduction of sick leave saves 3 months additional working time.
3 months * 2500€ per month = 7.500€ saving of labour
costs
7.500€ (net) are saved, because the employees are in the office and work instead of being absent.
QuietOffice V2 embedded in green. Click here for more photos.
30% of all meeting rooms are being used by individuals. So every third meeting room loses its actual use and becomes an individual office. This space can be put to use more effectively.
The Max Mustermann GmbH has 3 meeting rooms. One of these rooms is now to be converted into an office, as individuals now make phone calls and work in the phone booth (QuietOffice V1).
Size of meeting room: 10 square meters
Monthly rent per square meter: 25€
10m² * 25€ = 250€ rent per month
250€ * 12 months = 3000€ rent per year
In one year, the restructuring can thus save rental costs by up to3,000€.
QuietOffice V2 in the office. High quality. Stylish. Extremely soundproof. Click here for more photos.
The calculations are based on scientific research and international studies. As already mentioned, conservative values were chosen, so that at the final result is credible. The result is extremely pessimistic/realistic.
For reasons of simplification, some aspects have also been omitted, because: Peace and quiet at the office brings numerous other advantages and potential cost savings that have not been included here or are difficult to generalise.
These include, for example
no extra costs due to sick employees, unproductive work or incorrect results
general satisfaction and motivation to actively help shape and advance the company. Employees who feel comfortable, actively contribute ideas and are passionate are worth their weight in gold. - But how much exactly is difficult to determine mathematically.
Reduction of the fluctuation rate (as a reminder: the management consultancy Wolf I.O. Group GmbH put fluctuation costs as high as €36,000 per person)
QuietOffice V3 interior design. Click here for more photos.
Now we list the individual savings potentials of the different categories through the purchase of QuietOffice phone booths.
Productivity increase: 15.000€ per year
Reduction of sick days: 7.500€ per year
Savings rental space: 3.000€ per year
Total: 25.500€ per year
Per year, 25.500€ are saved by using phone booths.
25,500€ are saved annually through the use of phone booths.
These three relatively simple calculations proved that the QuietOffice phone booths provide peace and quiet at the office and thus save a lot of money.
But is enough money saved to justify the purchase?
In one year our example company, Max Mustermann GmbH, saves a total of 25,500€ (net). And that with only 10 employees by the purchase of 2 QuietOffice phone booths.
The service life of our phone booths is incredibly long. So long in fact, that we cannot give exact numbers, as one of our phone booths as never stopped working.
Our phone booths are enduring, resistant and of high quality. - The best conditions to last for an eternity.
So you save 25.500€ per year. And this over an undefined but very long period of time. So there is an enormous savings potential. Certainly higher than the purchase price.
25.500€ saving per year * very many years > one-time purchasing price
Concentrated work in a phone booth? QuietOffice V1 allows working while seated. Click here for more photos.
If you take a close look at the benefits of the office pods, a whole world of advantages and potential savings opens up in everyday office life.
The phone booths ensure peace, productivity and satisfaction of the employees and therefore belong in every office. So don't hesitate and request for a non-binding offer. What is there to lose?
The question is not how much it costs you to buy our phone booths, but: How much it will cost you not to buy them.
Do you want this impressive result for your company too?
Then take a look at our office pods. Or request a non-binding offer right away.
PS: Our office pods are guaranteed to be cheaper than 25.500€ per year ;-). For more exact pricing, just click on the button.
