This to me is the crux of what makes open offices work in some places and not others. Or more to the point, what makes any office better. Trust. If there aren't trusting relationships between...
This to me is the crux of what makes open offices work in some places and not others. Or more to the point, what makes any office better.
Trust.
If there aren't trusting relationships between coworkers, between developers and managers, between design and marketing, r etc etc, an open office won't fix it. If a manager doesn't trust thier workers and is using the open office to keep a closer eye on them, that feels terrible and will only breed resentment and more distrust.
Rearranging the furniture doesn't create trust. Hiring people who are try to assume the best not the worst, will admit when they are wrong it they don't know something, those are the kinds of coworkers that generate a good environment to work in. And sadly a few toxic people can ruin it, especially when a business or team is just starting.
I'm pretty lucky. I work in an open office, but there's an understanding that you'll have a non work related screen up somewhere. Unless it's actually hindering your work, nobody cares. There have...
I'm pretty lucky. I work in an open office, but there's an understanding that you'll have a non work related screen up somewhere. Unless it's actually hindering your work, nobody cares.
There have been some things I wouldn't do, but others have and nobody cares, such as have wow up on one of their monitors all day, or check Reddit during a meeting while their screen was shared. Sports have been a given, hockey is just expected to be streaming on everyone's computer, to the point where someone suggested we should just put it up on a big screen somewhere for everyone. Too bad our layout doesn't really allow for that.
Still, my personal favourite set up is about two to four in a room with a door.
Seriously?? That is a bit much, pretty rude if nothing else. I feel the same about people using mobile phones during meetings, not such a big deal during meetings where stuff might not be relevant...
or check Reddit during a meeting while their screen was shared.
Seriously?? That is a bit much, pretty rude if nothing else. I feel the same about people using mobile phones during meetings, not such a big deal during meetings where stuff might not be relevant to you I suppose, in larger meetings, but if there's only 3 or 4 people in the meeting then I find using phones pretty rude.
My job is the same though, lots of trust between employees and management, there's always some form of social media or youtube or something on most people's monitors.
Yeah, I was already from a pretty casual company, but these things were a bit awkward for me. I find it rude too. Phone things a bit different. A lot of is, me included, take notes on our phones,...
Yeah, I was already from a pretty casual company, but these things were a bit awkward for me. I find it rude too.
Phone things a bit different. A lot of is, me included, take notes on our phones, so they're always out.
I've never had an office job, but the few open plan offices I've visited for meetings have had a weird atmosphere. Sort of like a malevolent paranoia permeating through the entire place. Perhaps...
I've never had an office job, but the few open plan offices I've visited for meetings have had a weird atmosphere.
Sort of like a malevolent paranoia permeating through the entire place. Perhaps it has to do with unnatural lighting and workers constantly on edge because someone is always able to observe them and what they're doing.
Hopefully I can make it to retirement without ever having to be a desk jockey under flourescent light strips.
I think it has as much to do with the work culture as anything else. Where I work has really nice lighting (we can order extra lighting, or have lighting removed if we want), we can organise our...
I think it has as much to do with the work culture as anything else. Where I work has really nice lighting (we can order extra lighting, or have lighting removed if we want), we can organise our height stand-up desks pretty much however we like within our space, and the company has a very relaxed atmosphere.
The only thing I don't like about it is my tendency to look up from my screen sometimes if someone walks past my desk, that can be annoying if I lose my train of thought. Also, it can be a bit noisy, but I solved that with Bose QC35's.
Edit: Having said that, at my previous employer I had my own office, you can't beat it.
That's my issue too. Also if people walk behind me they make me jump sometimes. I was in a pretty high traffic spot and mentioned it was uncomfortable for me and got move next to a window, so it's...
The only thing I don't like about it is my tendency to look up ...
That's my issue too. Also if people walk behind me they make me jump sometimes. I was in a pretty high traffic spot and mentioned it was uncomfortable for me and got move next to a window, so it's pretty good now.
Edit: I also had a private office before and it was the best. If nothing else, I liked being about to blast my music.
I work in a company that's adopted a mix of open stand-up shared desks, cubicles, time-share meeting rooms, private offices, lab rooms, and remote work arrangements over the last couple of years....
I work in a company that's adopted a mix of open stand-up shared desks, cubicles, time-share meeting rooms, private offices, lab rooms, and remote work arrangements over the last couple of years. It's usually possible to create the type of productive space you need, at least some of the time.
This is unfortunately nothing new and, once again, is the fruit of not giving importance to the "quality". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6WWRarjNs (6.31)
This is unfortunately nothing new and, once again, is the fruit of not giving importance to the "quality".
This to me is the crux of what makes open offices work in some places and not others. Or more to the point, what makes any office better.
Trust.
If there aren't trusting relationships between coworkers, between developers and managers, between design and marketing, r etc etc, an open office won't fix it. If a manager doesn't trust thier workers and is using the open office to keep a closer eye on them, that feels terrible and will only breed resentment and more distrust.
Rearranging the furniture doesn't create trust. Hiring people who are try to assume the best not the worst, will admit when they are wrong it they don't know something, those are the kinds of coworkers that generate a good environment to work in. And sadly a few toxic people can ruin it, especially when a business or team is just starting.
... or when you're on Tildes!
I'm pretty lucky. I work in an open office, but there's an understanding that you'll have a non work related screen up somewhere. Unless it's actually hindering your work, nobody cares.
There have been some things I wouldn't do, but others have and nobody cares, such as have wow up on one of their monitors all day, or check Reddit during a meeting while their screen was shared. Sports have been a given, hockey is just expected to be streaming on everyone's computer, to the point where someone suggested we should just put it up on a big screen somewhere for everyone. Too bad our layout doesn't really allow for that.
Still, my personal favourite set up is about two to four in a room with a door.
Seriously?? That is a bit much, pretty rude if nothing else. I feel the same about people using mobile phones during meetings, not such a big deal during meetings where stuff might not be relevant to you I suppose, in larger meetings, but if there's only 3 or 4 people in the meeting then I find using phones pretty rude.
My job is the same though, lots of trust between employees and management, there's always some form of social media or youtube or something on most people's monitors.
Yeah, I was already from a pretty casual company, but these things were a bit awkward for me. I find it rude too.
Phone things a bit different. A lot of is, me included, take notes on our phones, so they're always out.
It probably won't, because anything else is too costly for all those cheapskate companies.
Yup. The real reason companies do it is so save money. They just say they're doing it for other reasons.
I was about to comment on this too. Open offices is super cost and space effective.
I've never had an office job, but the few open plan offices I've visited for meetings have had a weird atmosphere.
Sort of like a malevolent paranoia permeating through the entire place. Perhaps it has to do with unnatural lighting and workers constantly on edge because someone is always able to observe them and what they're doing.
Hopefully I can make it to retirement without ever having to be a desk jockey under flourescent light strips.
I think it has as much to do with the work culture as anything else. Where I work has really nice lighting (we can order extra lighting, or have lighting removed if we want), we can organise our height stand-up desks pretty much however we like within our space, and the company has a very relaxed atmosphere.
The only thing I don't like about it is my tendency to look up from my screen sometimes if someone walks past my desk, that can be annoying if I lose my train of thought. Also, it can be a bit noisy, but I solved that with Bose QC35's.
Edit: Having said that, at my previous employer I had my own office, you can't beat it.
That's my issue too. Also if people walk behind me they make me jump sometimes. I was in a pretty high traffic spot and mentioned it was uncomfortable for me and got move next to a window, so it's pretty good now.
Edit: I also had a private office before and it was the best. If nothing else, I liked being about to blast my music.
I work in a company that's adopted a mix of open stand-up shared desks, cubicles, time-share meeting rooms, private offices, lab rooms, and remote work arrangements over the last couple of years. It's usually possible to create the type of productive space you need, at least some of the time.
Is it always comfortable or efficient? No.
This is unfortunately nothing new and, once again, is the fruit of not giving importance to the "quality".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p6WWRarjNs (6.31)