Going great guns for a song

The key to a happy, productive workplace could be music. Research has revealed that fast-paced tunes can boost worker productivity by up to 23 per cent, while slow songs have the opposite effect.

Adrian North, a psychologist at the University of Leicester, studied the effects on staff carrying out repetitive tasks in a cheque and voucher sorting office. Participants listened to a variety of music.

He found the impact was considerable, supporting the theory that music can improve productivity.

Paul Rollins, who commissioned the study for the Performing Rights Society, said: "We know employees like listening to music in the workplace and that it improves morale. It seems that up-tempo music stimulates people."

Rollins said the cost of a licence from the Performing Rights Society to play music in the workplace was offset by the benefits.

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