A loooong time ago I worked in an open office space with the following rules: - no headphones: you can talk to me - headphone covers one ear: you can talk to

A loooong time ago I worked in an open office space with the following rules: - no headphones: you can talk to me - headphone covers one ear: you can talk to me if it is important - headphone covers both ears: only talk to me when the building is burning It's not perfect by any means but it worked quite well.