I see headphones as a response to cost-cutting decision such as open office floor plans, which are less costly but have increased noise levels and disruptions. Simply stuffing more people in the same space (another cost-saving measure) will increase noise levels as well. If 2/3 of respondents worry about the capacity to work concentrated and without interruption, I think there's something odd going on - the workplace doesn't seem to be well thought out for actual work. There is a reason why libraries enforce silence. To read, absorb and retain information you need to be relatively free of outside stimuli.
Also, if about half of the people use them to avoid conversations, maybe what needs to be done is to implement rules about when and how to discuss things, eventually carving out quiet times in the day or week, such as Intel's no talk Tuesdays or quiet Thursdays.
As an aside, for neuroatypical people noise-cancelling headphones can be a requirement to be able to achieve any sort of concentration and avoid burn out due to overstimulation. If you implement solutions such as wanting workers to remove headphones, please consider those with special needs.
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I see headphones as a response to cost-cutting decision such as open office floor plans, which are less costly but have increased noise levels and disruptions. Simply stuffing more people in the same space (another cost-saving measure) will increase noise levels as well. If 2/3 of respondents worry about the capacity to work concentrated and without interruption, I think there's something odd going on - the workplace doesn't seem to be well thought out for actual work. There is a reason why libraries enforce silence. To read, absorb and retain information you need to be relatively free of outside stimuli.
Also, if about half of the people use them to avoid conversations, maybe what needs to be done is to implement rules about when and how to discuss things, eventually carving out quiet times in the day or week, such as Intel's no talk Tuesdays or quiet Thursdays.
As an aside, for neuroatypical people noise-cancelling headphones can be a requirement to be able to achieve any sort of concentration and avoid burn out due to overstimulation. If you implement solutions such as wanting workers to remove headphones, please consider those with special needs.