Why businesses are offering 'quiet hours'
Key takeaways
- More peace and quiet, less stress — the Quiet Hour is an initiative for people with invisible disabilities.
- All in all, customers and staff are experiencing less of a strain on their senses — and that's the whole idea behind the Quiet Hour.
- The concept stems from an initiative by the German association Gemeinsam Zusammen (Together Together).
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
More peace and quiet, less stress — the Quiet Hour is an initiative for people with invisible disabilities. An increasing number of stores and institutions in Germany are launching similar campaigns.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Et ZFMany people can profit from a quieter shopping experience Image: Frank Hoermann/Sven Simon/picture alliance Advertisement Since the beginning of June, everything quiets down in German IKEA stores on Wednesdays between 5 and 7 p.m. — with no music to be heard, dimmer lights and no announcements over the PA system (except in the case of an emergency). All in all, customers and staff are experiencing less of a strain on their senses — and that's the whole idea behind the Quiet Hour.
The concept stems from an initiative by the German association Gemeinsam Zusammen (Together Together). "We want the Quiet Hour to provide relief for people with invisible disabilities. Their nervous systems are often permanently overwhelmed, which is why we'd like to provide them with moments of relief, with low sensory stimulation," Rebecca Lefevre, the association's spokesperson, told DW.