Workplaces aren’t what they once were…even judging by sound alone. Green design elements and the need to optimize space all came about ahead of the recession, but reductions in average cubicle space, partition height and usage of walls created an unintended problem: letting sound travel further.

Noise reduction is very important. When the noise level at work is a little too loud, chances are one of two things are happening. Either somebody’s having a good time chatting or taking a break or somebody is flat-out fuming mad. In either scenario everyone who can hear them has been distracted to some degree and the office is less productive as a result.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) once did a national survey and the results were loud and clear. Over 70 percent of respondents said their productivity would improve if their workspace was less noisy.

Headphones are effective for noise cancellation in settings such as an airplane, but they’re highly impractical for offices unless the workplace is similar to a call center. Most other businesses have more interactive routines. Having employees participate in discussions and collaborate with one another is vital, as is speech privacy in an organization. Killing noise while keeping the conversations going is the optimal goal. Here’s how you can help that happen:

Sound masking is loud enough to drown out conversational distraction, but quiet enough to not be annoying or to impede work-related interaction. Controlling the fluctuations in background sound is the key to this method. Structural sound masking includes the use of sound attenuating materials. Sound masking through active background level controls are more prevalent in music and theater performances and much less likely in an office setting.

White noise machines are used by many people who find it difficult to sleep because of too much sound disturbing them. Blocking unwanted noise can be ideal for smaller workplace settings or just from the main office where important conversations are held, making them your prime places to focus on speech privacy.

Has the conversation in the next room ever been literally over your head? You can look upwards for a sound cancellation answer. Try installing a high performance ceiling with sound absorption characteristics. Acoustic ceiling tiles are one option, as are foam and insulation materials. A product called the Quiet Barrier, in sizes 1/8-inch thick to ¼ inch thick, can also do an effective job of noise reduction.

Partial height barriers between work stations should be raised six inches to a foot if possible. That way a worker at seated at their desk is less likely to hear the conversations carried above their head levels. If working with a new wall is an option, consider double 5/8 drywall with green glue in between (and pink insulation would work with it).

Finally, open air grills and vents are common channels through which sound can travel, and even doors or windows that don’t seal properly let sounds leak out. Speech privacy and noise reduction can always be improved by little things, so take time to do a checklist of all the potential spots where the sound could get around and think about simple ways to work on them.