Publication Type
Magazine Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
5-2026
Abstract
Walk into almost any modern office, and you will see it: earbuds in, playlists on, and heads down. For many employees, music is an essential tool for focusing, mood regulation, and stamina. For most managers, it is a non-issue as long as performance stays strong. If it helps people concentrate, let them listen to music. At worst, it is a harmless preference, such as drinking coffee or using a standing desk.
Discipline
Organizational Behavior and Theory
Research Areas
Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources
Areas of Excellence
Sustainability
Publication
Harvard Business Review
ISSN
0017-8012
Publisher
Harvard Business Review
Citation
GENCAY, Oguz; SCHAERER, Michael; and FOULK, Trevor A..
Research: What message are your headphones sending your coworkers?. (2026). Harvard Business Review.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/lkcsb_research/7908
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://hbr.org/2026/05/research-what-message-are-your-headphones-sending-your-coworkers