More collaborative workplaces have come at a price: knowledge workers who can’t think in the buzz of an open-plan office. Researchers are pinpointing the ideal level of noise to stay focused

Dr Libby Sander is researching a human-friendly future of work. The coping strategies that workers have developed in the wake of trends in office plans might be seen as worse than the cause. Her multidisciplinary team is exploring whether reality matches our perceptions and what can be done to improve workplaces with limited budgets.

Senior executives typically want to see a lot of collaboration and communication going on in their offices, but knowledge workers often crave a bit of privacy, personal space, peace and quiet.