Two-thirds (67%) of accountants working in silence wish music was played in their workplace, reveals a new survey from music licensing company PPL PRS. Although over seven in 10 (72%) workplaces play music already, a notable one in four (27%) still operate in silence.
Over half (55%) of respondents report feeling stressed at work – the most common challenge faced by accountants – followed by high pressure (44%) and tight deadlines (40%). Nearly a third (30%) suffer from fatigue, while a quarter (24%) are overwhelmed and a fifth (21%) face a lack of motivation at work.
How music benefits accountants at work
The survey found that there are a host of benefits that music can provide; nearly half (45%) said that music reduces their stress levels, while over two-fifths (43%) attribute it to boosting the general mood of the workplace. Furthermore, nearly a third (32%) acknowledge that music boosts productivity, indicating its significant role in positively shaping the work environment.
Almost a quarter (23%) of accountants find silence at work uncomfortable, preferring background music; just one in 10 (11%) of those surveyed prefer working in silence, or express that music has no impact on their productivity or the mood of the workplace.
While pop music is most commonly played – in two-fifths (60%) of accountancies – some playlist diversity is craved; pop remains popular (42%), but is followed by RnB (23%), chill-out (20%) and classical music (18%).
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By GlobalDataAccountants find background music particularly beneficial for administrative tasks (47%) – like reading and responding to emails – transactional work or data input (36%) and reviewing documents (34%). Meanwhile, a quarter agree that reconciliations (25%), analysis (26%), statement reporting (25%) and compliance work (25%) benefit from background music. Just 3% of respondents suggested that no tasks are better undertaken with music playing.
Commenting on the findings, caba mental wellbeing expert, Paul Guess, said: “Accountancy is an inherently high-pressure profession with accountants facing intense workloads, tight deadlines and demanding clients. At times, the office can be a stressful working environment and individuals might be unsure of how to reduce stress when at work.
“Effective stress management is highly personal, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. But we know that the most effective measures to manage stress are often the simplest, with music being one of them.
“The benefits of music are well known, and it can be a vital tool for helping clear the mind and making us feel calmer. Listening to music in the office can contribute to a healthier workplace environment – helping boost our productivity and in the long-run, improve mental wellbeing.”
What are the key productivity boosters for accountants during long hours?
With over half (56%) of accountants working days of eight hours or longer – and one in seven (14%) working upwards of nine hours every day – productivity boosters are needed to maintain motivation and keep morale up.
Of common office motivators, the top choice for accountants is music (37%) – played either in the office (21%) or through headphones (16%) – followed by taking regular breaks (30%). Least likely to boost productivity during long days, however, are office plants (2%), effective desk setup (5%), and the temperature and lighting of the office (6%).
How can leaders in accounting leverage music to boost productivity and morale?
PPL PRS leadership coach, Deborah Green, concluded: “Leaders can leverage music to create a more enjoyable environment for focused work and collaboration. I’ve always been impressed by those that work with data/figures who go through their task whilst music is playing in the background and/or they are listening in to their own music on their headphones.
“The leader can agree with the team on what music they want to play, and everyone can pick their own playlists. Gentle background music, that isn’t intrusive, makes a huge difference as the environment isn’t too quiet where no-one even wants to talk to each other.”
