Well, I had the volume to a level to eliminate distracting noise. The latter comprised of stand-ups not associated with my team, random interjections, people discussing their dating experiences, scraping of bowls, etc. I guess I was trying to work as best as I could and listening to white noise to drown out the open-office cacophony was my attempt to earn my paycheck. My attempts to complain to the teams and their managers fell on deaf ears. I now have lifelong tinnitus.