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Working From Home in a Heatwave? The Right Headset Could Make All the Difference

Are Your Headsets Ready for a Heatwave?

The UK is sweltering, and offices are emptying out. Whether your team is working from home during the heatwave or your business supports flexible working all year round, it’s a good time to think about whether everyone has the right equipment to work comfortably and professionally.

A good headset makes a real difference: to call quality, to how your team comes across, and to how comfortable the working day feels when the temperature rises. The good news is there are more options than ever — including some designed specifically with all-day comfort in mind, whatever the weather.

What Headsets Do You Have at Home?

Many businesses invest heavily in their office setups – quality headsets on every desk, noise-cancelling microphones and professional audio equipment. But when employees work from home as part of a flexible working arrangement, they often make do with whatever happens to be in a drawer: earbuds designed for the gym, a wired headset from three laptops ago, or sometimes nothing at all.

For the occasional day at home, that’s usually fine. For a full week of back-to-back calls from the spare room, kitchen table, sofa, or wherever the fan happens to be, it’s far from ideal.

If you’re regularly working remotely, a decent headset isn’t a luxury. It directly affects call quality, how professionally you come across, and — especially during summer — how comfortable you remain throughout the day.

A smiling man with a short beard and brown hair sits in a bright, modern office setting wearing a light blue button-down shirt. He is wearing a black binaural headset with a boom microphone close to his mouth, looking slightly to the right of the frame. The background shows a blurred call center or office environment with white desks and green plants.

Keeping Cool and Comfortable on Calls

Binaural Headset

Traditional over-the-ear headsets — the binaural type that covers both ears are an excellent choice for reducing distractions and maintaining focus. Many models also feature Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), helping to minimise background noise so conversations remain clear, even in busy households or shared workspaces.

If you prefer this style, look for lightweight designs, breathable ear cushions, and comfortable headbands, especially if you’re likely to be wearing them for long periods in warmer weather.

However, during a heatwave, it may be worth considering alternative styles that reduce heat build-up and improve all-day comfort.

A side-profile view of a row of customer service representatives sitting at their computers in a bright, modern office or call center. In the foreground, a smiling woman with her hair in a bun wears a black headset with a boom microphone while looking at her computer screen. Behind her, a man and another woman are also seated at their desks wearing headsets, creating a shallow depth of field that blurs the background.

Stay Cooler With One Ear Free (Monaural)

Monaural Headset

Monaural headsets cover just one ear, leaving the other open. You still benefit from clear audio and a professional microphone, but with less heat build-up and greater awareness of your surroundings.

Most major headset manufacturers, including Jabra, Poly, and EPOS, offer monaural options across their business ranges. For many home workers, simply switching from two ear cups to one makes a noticeable difference in summer.

A side-profile view of three office workers sitting in a row at their desks in a modern, brightly lit workplace. In the foreground, a smiling woman with short hair looks at her computer screen while wearing a sleek black bone conduction headset that wraps behind her head and sits just in front of her ear. Behind her, a bearded man in a grey sweater holds a telephone receiver to his ear, and further in the background, another man works at his computer. All three are wearing identical black bone conduction headsets, creating a shallow depth of field that keeps the focus on the foreground.

No Ear Coverage at All: Bone Conduction

Bone Conduction

Bone conduction headsets take a completely different approach. Rather than delivering sound through speakers placed on or in the ears, they transmit audio via gentle vibrations through the cheekbones.

With Shokz bone conduction headsets:
  • Nothing sits inside the ear canal
  • No ear cushions trapping heat against your head
  • Your ears remain open to your surroundings while you stay connected on calls

In the spotlight – Shokz

Shokz bone conduction headsets

Shokz offers a range of bone conduction headsets designed for professional use. By pairing noise-cancelling boom microphones with an open-ear layout, they aim to balance all-day comfort with the call clarity businesses require.

While traditional headsets still provide the best noise isolation in busy environments, many users prefer Shokz during warmer days for the lightweight, pressure-free feel.

It’s worth noting that, due to the open-ear design, some sound leakage can occur at higher volumes, so they may not be ideal for completely silent shared offices. For most home office environments, however, they’re a strong option when comfort is a priority.

Image source: Shokz

Bone Conduction Is Moving Into the Enterprise

Open-ear technology is no longer just for runners and tech enthusiasts. Manufacturers like Shokz are increasingly developing business-focused products, reflecting the reality of modern hybrid working.

At InfoComm 2026, Shokz highlighted open-ear communication as a growing consideration for organisations looking to improve employee comfort without sacrificing call quality.

What Should You Choose?

Now is a perfect time to check in with your team and ensure their hardware matches their environment. Here is a quick cheat sheet:

Binaural Headsets (Two Ears): Best for noisy environments, maximum concentration, and total audio isolation. Many models also include Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) for even greater focus.

Monaural Headsets (One Ear): Best for a balance of clarity, heat reduction, and environmental awareness.

Bone Conduction Headsets (Open Ear): Best for long days on calls, maximum physical comfort in the heat, and full ambient awareness.

The right choice depends on your setup, whether that’s a spare room, a desk in the bedroom, the kitchen table, or wherever you’ve carved out your workspace — your call volume, and frankly, just how hot it gets in July.

Evoke Telecom company logo with a white Evoke wording and light blue telecom word.

Need a hand choosing? Hop over to our business headset page or get in touch and we’ll help you find the perfect, heatwave-proof option that fits your team.

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