It’s your work space. Problem #1: Open Office Space Doesn't Always Increase Collaboration There’s a well-intentioned but not always accurate argument that open office spaces (meaning, no cubicles or walls, just one big space where everyone shares a table, etc.) People’s individual work preferences can’t efficiently co-exist in one space, which is why options are necessary. Problem #2: Open Office Space and Cubicles Could Make Employees Unhappy 42.76% of respondents said a private office is their ideal work environment, and 23% chose their home office. Despite the comforts of a home work environment, many people still want to come to the office. Ioana Neamt of Commercial Cafe explains it this way: “Every individual yearns for control, and in an open-office layout that’s usually difficult to attain, as everything is shared: the space, the lighting, the temperature, the noise level, even one’s time.” People are more likely to be unhappy in office spaces where external circumstances distract them from getting their work done, and they don’t have the power to avoid those distractions. Problem #3: Open Office Space Can Reduce Productivity Open offices are not always the most cost-effective option. But the same can’t be said for personalized open floor space. Offering lockers, a table, a chair, or a designated team meeting spot can help employees feel more comfortable in the open office. Solution #3: Build Privacy or Quiet Centers If you don’t have the money to redesign your office space and build private offices, that’s okay.
We found the number one productivity killer in the workplace, and contrary to what you might think, it isn’t social media, hallway gossip sessions, or Friday’s happy hour.
It’s your work space.
About 70 percent of U.S. offices use an open environment, including big Tech companies like Apple and Google. But just because Apple’s doing it doesn’t mean you should.
An open office is rumored to increase collaboration, encourage a good work culture, and decrease costs by accommodating more employees in less space. But in some situations, it can actually be less cost-effective than paying for private employee offices.
To explore how office space and office design affects employee productivity, Commercial Cafe conducted a nationwide survey of 2,107 U.S.-based, full-time employees from across industries.
Read on to find out the biggest dilemmas in open office spaces and how you can solve them without a major redesign.
Problem #1: Open Office Space Doesn’t Always Increase Collaboration
There’s a well-intentioned but not always accurate argument that open office spaces (meaning, no cubicles or walls, just one big space where everyone shares a table, etc.) increase collaboration.
Here’s the problem: it might increase collaboration to some degree, but it also might increase debates about last night’s episode of The Bachelor, conversations about the best Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavors … in other words, distractions.
Not everyone is a fan of the open layouts: “Employees are now stuck in open-office floor plans they hate and cause them to resent their loud-talking neighbors more than want to collaborate with them,” wrote Digiday.
An open floor plan doesn’t just encourage collaboration — it can also fosters frustration and confrontation. It’s important to remember everybody works differently. Your introverted employees might need silence to work through their thoughts, while your extroverts need to talk through their problems out loud. People’s individual work preferences can’t efficiently co-exist in one space, which is why options are necessary.
Problem #2: Open Office Space and Cubicles Could Make Employees Unhappy
42.76% of respondents said a private office is their ideal work environment, and 23% chose their home office.
With more people working remote nowadays, this might surprise you. Despite the comforts of a home work environment, many people still want to come to the office. They just want their privacy.
In comparison, only about 10% of respondents chose open spaces as their ideal work environment, and less than 5% said they prefer working in a cubicle.
Ioana Neamt of Commercial Cafe explains it this way: “Every individual yearns for control, and in an open-office layout that’s usually difficult to attain, as everything is shared: the space, the lighting, the temperature, the noise level, even one’s time.”
People are more likely to be unhappy…
COMMENTS