Sensory overload is increasingly recognised as a relevant phenomenon in many workplaces. Employees and occupational health professionals use the term to describe daily experiences, yet it lacks a clear and consistent scientific definition. Existing research approaches the concept mainly from clinical or personality perspectives, leading to conceptual ambiguity and confusion with related constructs such as work stress or cognitive overload.


This study aims to define sensory overload at the workplace and clarify how and when it occurs, building on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework. A scoping review (PRISMA, JBI) of 45 definitions revealed substantial variation across disciplines and highlighted the need for a coherent framework applicable to work settings. To examine the phenomenon in practice, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts (occupational physicians, job coaches, prevention advisors) and employees from diverse sectors (healthcare, education, administration, laboratories, and telework). Thematic analysis of 101 interviews showed that sensory overload is a recognisable yet subjective experience, differing by type of stimuli (e.g., noise, light, scent), context (e.g., telework vs. open offices), and personal sensitivity. Social stimuli also emerged as a distinct and frequent source of overload.


Combining both studies, we propose a new, unified definition with defining features and identify influencing factors regarding sensory overload at the workplace and highlight research gaps. To further refine our findings, a new group of experts was subsequently engaged to co-develop concrete and practice-oriented recommendations and practical implications. Our results provide researchers and practitioners with a shared language and solid basis for developing tailored interventions, education, and workplace design to better prevent and manage sensory overload.