Want to connect with coworkers? Turn up the tunes

Looking for new ways to bond with your coworkers? Try ramping up the workplace stereo system and jamming out together to your favorite songs. 

That's the mission of TouchTunes Unlimited, a music service that drops a real-life jukebox into the office breakroom, letting employees sideline as the workplace DJ. 

"At TouchTunes, there is always a jukebox on with music playing in the background while we work," says Stephanie Badouix, HR director for the company. "It's our responsibility as managers to create those moments that matter, to motivate people to come back to the office and help them see the workplace as a fun and collaborative environment to bond with colleagues." 

Read more: Music can improve employee productivity, mood and focus

A TouchTunes Unlimited jukebox in the office.

The platform already provides jukeboxes to music venues, bars and restaurants. The company expanded their services in 2021 to bring the jukeboxes into the workplace in an effort to help employees reconnect as they head back to the office, Badouix says. Programming a playlist or gathering around the jukebox to pick out songs is a unique bonding experience. 

"Employees have access to a catalog of music with unlimited plays, so they can create playlists and set the mood for the workplace," she says. "A company can decide a specific hour when music can be played, and have conversations around what makes for a diverse playlist." 

Research has shown that playing music while working can boost productivity and mood: a survey by staffing firm Accountemps found that 71% of employees say they are more productive when music is playing while they work. Calming music can even change brain function, reducing stress hormones.  

Badouix says she loves to listen to pop music during the day, to boost her energy. Through TouchTunes, she's been introduced to other genres of music, like new wave, which has started conversations with her colleagues over their music preferences. The jukebox is a good icebreaker, and can help employees feel more comfortable with each other, especially if they've been working remotely previously. 

"This is something we don't really do naturally anymore, since being remote, having that social connection or conversation before jumping into your meeting," Badouix says. "Music is such a good facilitator of that — people love to discover music and discuss it."  

Read more: 13 companies that expanded their benefits in 2022

While most people enjoy a little background noise, Badouix acknowledges it could be distracting to some. The Touchtunes jukeboxes can be programmed to play during lunch hours or certain hours of the day, and on a lower volume to accommodate for phone calls or meetings. 

With 2023 around the corner and many employers anticipating a return to the office in the new year, they'll need to create a culture that feels worthwhile to employees, Badouix says. Music is one way to foster that connection. 

"When we ask people to come back to the office, it really has to add value to them," Badouix says. "The aim is to improve workplace productivity, happiness and company culture by leveraging the power of music. It opens up new possibilities for interactions."