In an interview, SMU Professor of Organisational Behaviour & Human Resources Michael Schaerer said that today's work requires a lot of deep concentration while there are more distractions than ever, making headphones more of a productivity tool and the modern office door. However, he noticed that people often judge the story they tell themselves about why you're wearing the headphones, and if they think someone is tuning out from work, they may offer less support and collaborate less. He noted that organisations often say they value productivity, but in practice, availability, responsiveness, and visible effort can influence evaluations because what is visible is often immediate. Prof Schaerer recommended that organisations develop assessment frameworks that are more outcome-focused and normalise the idea that focused work is actually often needed and valuable.
