Why The “Open” Office Is A Hotbed Of Stress—And What To Do About It
My latest column for Time.com is about how “open” offices—structured only by cubicles or desks, without walls or private spaces—are actually detrimental to productivity and to worker satisfaction:
“Ringing phones. Pinging e-mail. Co-workers’ ringing phones and pinging e-mail. How is anyone supposed to get work done in this place?
The modern open office was designed for team building and camaraderie but is mostly distinguished by its high noise levels, lack of privacy and surfeit of both digital and human distractions. And indeed, several decades of research have confirmed that open-plan offices are generally associated with greater employee stress, poorer co-worker relations and reduced satisfaction with the physical environment. But there are some ways to combat those detrimental effects and still be productive.”
Read more here, and tell me about your experiences with open offices!