![]() ![]() This paradox compelled us to better understand open office dynamics. How could an office designed for collaboration create such intense dissatisfaction? Despite the refreshing new office look, our associates found they were collaborating less, were more distracted, and felt less productive than ever before. Global TrendsĪbout six years ago, my company jumped feet-first into this collaborative new way of working and transformed Poly’s Santa Cruz Headquarters into a modern, open office layout-and we quickly came to understand the challenges of actually working in the open office environment. ![]() Modern-day office spaces often include open workplace design with flexible workstations, huddle spaces, and contemporary design. As companies tear down walls and private offices in favor of communal desks and “collaborative” spaces, employees are losing their privacy and experiencing a greater number of unwelcomed office conversations, conference calls, keyboard clacking, and other distracting noises. A 2014 CoreNet Global survey reported that the average square footage per worker dropped from 225 square feet in 2010 to 151 square feet in 2017, with personal workspace steadily decreasing at a rate of 9.25 square feet per worker per year. Noise distractions are further intensified by the inherent design of open offices. In fact, a study out of the Center for the Built Environment at UC Berkeley that surveyed over 63,000 respondents from the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, Mexico, and Africa found that speech distractions were among the top complaints in open office layouts. Noise and other distractions are more rampant and intrusive than ever before. ![]() However, as many workers are now painfully aware, open offices aren’t living up to the hype. At first glance, open offices seem beneficial, promising to save thousands of real estate dollars and foster an environment for productive, collaborative work. As companies strive to create better workspaces for their employees, they often favor the open office design. The open office is visually stunning and irrefutably popular.
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