My introduction to an open floor plan was in high school. I walked into the building and thought, Wow! This is so cool! There were no separate classrooms, no closed doors, and I could see from one end of the building to the other. What a change from the claustrophobic school I had come from!
Once my classes began however, the open floor plan was not so cool. It was loud, really loud. It was hard to hear the teacher talking. The only division between the classes was a fabric partition that sat on wheels for easier movement. Some classes were so loud they caused me, my classmates, and the teacher to turn our gaze toward the excitement that was happening next door. About the only thing I did enjoy about those open classrooms was passing notes under the wall to friends in the class next door!
So, who thought up the idea of the placing everyone in the same room?
During the 1950s, a German Quickborner team (a management consulting group) developed what they believed to be a more effective working environment. They named their design Bürolandschaft (office landscape) and the open floor plan as we know it today was born.
Large areas were broken into smaller spaces using traditional desks, screens, and large plants that encouraged employees to work in groups. Larger spaces were used for workers who did repetitive jobs such as sewing, typing, or clerical work and held rows of desks or work stations for the employees. Today, over 70% of today’s offices are some combination of open cubicles, private offices, and group work areas.
Why would a business use an open floor plan?
- Easier to set up and move desk spaces depending on the needs of the office
- Working in close proximity = a team atmosphere
- Reduces barriers between coworkers
- Removes organizational hierarchy
- Encourages connections and idea sharing
- Cost effectiveness. It is less expensive to have a uniform space that has identical lighting and heating and can be adapted quickly and easily based on the needs of the business.
- Many of today’s office buildings are already designed with open spaces.
- When start-up costs are small, often the budget doesn’t allow for construction of separate offices.
- It is easier to discuss ideas and delegate tasks sitting side by side than to call everyone into a meeting room from separate offices.
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When the office team consists of a handful of people, an open floor plan can work well. Over 90% of businesses I work with have open floor plans. The owner, sales team, bookkeeper, and support staff work within one or two rooms. I notice a closeness and camaraderie between the owner and their employees as they are in close proximity each day. Questions are quickly and easily answered by just asking the person three feet away.
Open office spaces are not all they are expected to be.
Though working together and easily sharing ideas by turning and talking to the person next to you sounds great, when working 40+ hours in a large, open space with many employees, research has proven open plan offices contribute to
- High noise levels
- High blood pressure
- Increased stress
- Sickness
- Conflicts between employees
- Higher staff turnover
- Reduction in productivity, concentration, performance, and job satisfaction
I have worked in open floor plan offices, in cubicles, and within very small office spaces. I enjoy the closeness of my colleagues to bounce ideas off of and to easily assign tasks however; I prefer my own private and separate office space. Being able to close a door allows me to focus without distraction, adjust the heat or light as needed, keep my area organized, and have a private conversation when necessary.
How do workers cope with the noise and distractions of their open office space?
I have found when working in an open office environment standard rules should be in place for all employees. It helps productivity and reduces stress for everyone. Consider these suggestions to help with employee satisfaction in your open office:
- Don’t play music or listen to talk radio at your desk without headphones.
- Don’t have music piped into the general work space.
- Keep voice levels down when having telephone conversations.
- Don’t constantly interrupt colleagues with idle talk.
- Keep desk areas clean and organized.
- Don’t eat hot or stinky foods at your desk.
- Don’t wear a lot perfume or cologne.
- If you are very sick, be considerate and stay home!
Related: How To Completely Change Your Productivity
Though most employers often don’t have a choice as to whether their office space is open concept or not, it is their responsibility to ensure their employee’s satisfaction. As I rarely work in an office separate from other staff, I have found these suggestions help when working in a space that has a lot of noise and distractions.
- Wear earbuds or noise cancelling headphones – it gives control to what you are listening to.
- Use meeting room space when you need quiet to concentrate or to have a private conversation.
- Ask for quiet time or use a “do not disturb” sign during specific times of the work day.
What do you think? Are you in love with the open office concept or are you stressed out from working elbow to elbow with your colleagues?
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