Physical & Productivity Benefits Validated.
Headsets proven to reduce muscle tension up to 41%!
Results of a study conducted at Santa Clara Valley
Medical Centre in San Jose, CA, provide strong
evidence that office and telephone professionals
can reduce neck, shoulder and upper back
muscle tension as much as 41% by using
headsets.
During a three month study, 62 people (33 women
and 29 men), ranging from 20 to 63 years old,
were involved in tests that evaluated the various
levels of muscle tension resulting when office
workers engage in other tasks while using the
telephone. Study participants, all of whom used
the telephone a minimum of three hours a day,
were employed in a variety of professions from
attorneys, reporters and consultants to small
business owners, sales and customer support,
engineering and financial operations.
In the first half of the study, participants were
asked to use a conventional handset while
performing a series of tasks including reading,
note taking and typing on a computer. In the
second half, participants used a Plantronics
headset over phone handsets, providing the first
scientific evidence that validates the physical
benefits of headsets in reducing neck and upper
back muscle tension. In today’s demanding work
environments, employers and employees alike
can benefit from using headsets, resulting in lower
medical costs and happier, more productive
workers.
* % difference between headset and handset means microvolt
measurements across all muscle groups.
** Overall mean comparision,using average reading, writing
and typing mean microvolt measurements.
Plantronics headsets
improve workplace
efficiency and productivity
by up to 43%!
I
n a commissioned study, the firm of H.B. Maynard
& Co concluded that adding hands free
Plantronics headsets to conventional office
telephones substantially improves productivity
and overall call volume while reducing phone
related employee downtime and physical
discomfort. In the course of the study, more than
2,000 telephone transactions were observed and
recorded on a time/motion basis at four firms over
an eight day study period. Workgroups studied
included inside sales people, travel agents,
technical sales support personnel and
stockbrokers with previous headset experience.
The results showed that workers equipped with
Plantronics headsets had an overall productivity
increase of up to 43% over the control group. Time
spent in telephone related work activities was
reduced substantially. Repeat calls were made
without interruption, and ordinarily time intensive
tasks such as typing on a PC were performed far
more quickly and efficiently with Plantronics
headsets. Not only was a reduced error rate and
improved service record noted, but workers on
the phone full-time with Plantronics headsets
placed an average of 16 more calls per day than
those using traditional handsets.
Finally, workers equipped with Plantronics
headsets reported higher morale, lower fatigue
levels and fewer phone related physical
complaints. After more than a week of using
Plantronics headsets they couldn’t imagine going
back to using cumbersome handset phones.
Activities
Significance
Reading*
Headset users experienced
41% less muscle tension than
handset users.
Writing*
Headset users experienced
36.6% less muscle tension
than handset users.
Typing*
Headset users experienced
31.4% less muscle tension
than handset users.
Overall**
OVERALL: HEADSET USERS
EXPERIENCED 35% LESS
MUSCLE TENSION THAN
HANDSET USERS.
Headset Efficiency & Productivity Guide
© 2004 Plantronics, Inc. All rights reserved, Plantronics, the logo design, Plantronics & the logo design combined, AcuSpeak, .Audio, Call Clarity, Cat72, Cat132N, DuoPro, DuoSet, Encore, Firefly, Flexfit, Flex Grip, Headset Switcher, Intellistand,
Freehand, Mirage, PerSono Pro, Polaris, QuickAdjust, Quick Disconnect, SES, SoundGuard, Sound Guide, StarSet II, Supra, SupraPlus, TriStar Vista, Versatip and the clear color and curvature of the Plantronics voice tube are registered tradmarks
of Plantronics, Inc. The Bluetooth name and trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
American Physical Therapy Association
Plantronics headsets endorsed by:
3
How to Select the Right
Headset for You.
38
121.6
13.4
4
50%
75%
100%
75
113
150
240.0
361.6
480.0
26.4
39.8
52.8
8
12
16
25%
% of Work Day
Spent On Phone
No of Calls Per
Day
Total Minutes On
Phone
Minutes Saved
Per Day
Additional Calls
Possible
STEP 1.
Use this chart to determine your productivity increase
and time savings.
STEP 2.
Use this chart to calculate your payback and dollar
savings.
Calculations
Example
Actual
1) % workday spent on phone
50%
%
2) Mins saved per day (see chart) 26.4 mins
mins
3) Total Hours saved per day
(line 2 divided by 60)
0.44 hrs
hrs
4) Hourly Labour Rate
5) Total Labour Savings per Day
per Headset (Line 3 x Line 4)
6) Total Labour Saving per Month
per Headset
(line 5 21 working days)
7) Number of Headset Users
8) Total Savings per month
(line 6 x line 7)
$9.00
$
$3.96
$
$83.16
$
10
$831.60
$
9) Cost per Headset
Headset Investment Cost
$200
$
10) Total Investment
(line 7 x line 9)
$2000
$
Headset Payback Period
11) Payback Period
(line 10 divided by line 8)
2.4 mos
mos
12) 1st Year Headset Savings
(12 mos - line 11 x line 8)
$7983.36 $
13) Subsequent Annual Savings
(line 8 x 12 mos)
$9979.20 $
Use this chart to calculate how much money
a Plantronics headset
can save your business?
Headset Efficiency Guide
The Following chart has been designed to help
assess your headset application and work
environment. This enables you to select the
headset that is best for you personally.
Usage & Environment
Recommended Headset
Usage & Environment
Recommended Adaptor or Phone
Working in an Open Plan Office Area
H31, H41, H51, H51N, H61, H61N, H91,
H91N, H101, H101N, H141, H141N, H171,
H171N, H251, H251N, H261 & H261N
Need to confer when taking/making a call
Reception Area
Noisy Reception Area
Intensive but Short Duration Calls
Executive or SoHo Use
Emergency Services
Noisy Environments where calls are
recorded
P10 & M12E
Heavy PC Users/Internet Telephony
Celular, Cordless or DECT Users
Tone Commander & Older Systems
Modern Telephone Systems
Headsets are shared with other staff
H31, H41, H51, H51N, H61, H61N, H91,
H91N, H101, H101N, H141, H141N, H171,
H171N, H251, H251N, H261 & H261N
H31, H41, H81, H141 & H171
H51, H51N, H61, H61N, H91, H91N, H101,
H101N, H251, H251N, H261 & H261N
H41N, H81N, H141N & H171N
H41, H41N, H81, H81N, H141, H141N, H171
& H171N
H81, H131N, H132N, H171, H351, H351N,
H361 & H361N
H31, H61, H61N, H101, H101N, H261, H261N
H31, H51N, H61N,H91N,H101N, H141N,
H171N, H251N, H261N, H351N & H361N
.Audio 350, 360 370, 500USB, 510 USB,
550DSP, DSP400 & DSP500
Bluetooth & Mobile Headsets
Analogue Telephones
Executives & Professionals
SoHo (Small Office & Home Office)
M12E
ACD & Consoles
M12
M12E
M12E, MX10, DA55, DA60, CA40, CS60,
CS60USB, CS70, Voyager 510 & CT12
General Business
Call Centres
Telemarketing
Call Centre Supervisors
Sales Managers
Retail or Warehouse
Simultaneous Telephone and PC Work
Doro Congress 100, 200 & 305, StarBase
2010, S12, T10, CT11 & CT12
M12E, DA40, DA55, StarBase 2010, CA40,
CS60, CS60USB, CS70, CT11 & CT12
M12E, MX10, DA55, DA60, StarBase 2010,
CA40, CS60, CS60USB, CS351, CS351N &
CS361N
M12E, StarBase 2010, CA40, CS60,
CS60USB, CS351, CS351N & CS361N
M12E, MX10, DA55, DA60, CS60,
CS60USB, Voyager 510, CS70 & CT12
CT11 & CT12
MX10, DA40, DA55 or DA60 & “H” Headset
M12E, MX10, DA40, DA55, DA60, CA40,
CS60, CS60USB, Voyager 510, CT11 &
CT12
