Open Offices Don’t Work and You Need to Change Them

There was a time when open offices were a thing. Big companies believed that it made their employees productive, and many other companies thought the same thing. After having it for a while, you might already understand that it doesn’t work. It might be great at enhancing productivity at first, but the novelty eventually wears off.

People need privacy

You need to understand that even at work, your employees need privacy. They also want breathing space. Work can be overwhelming. It’s even worse when everyone is talking at the same time. You need to understand that your employees aren’t robots that you can ask to work each time you hit the button. They also need to take a break and be alone for a while.

Nothing gets done

The problem with an open office is that it assumes that everyone has the same working method. Some people might enjoy the idea that they can communicate with anyone they want in the office. They also like throwing ideas around. Not everyone likes it. Some people prefer brainstorming alone. They can do more when they don’t get disturbed by anyone. If you want a space for creativity and open sharing, you can have a specific room for that. You can also improve the meeting room. Purchase an AV media cabinet for improved presentations during meetings. You can also brighten up the room, so it becomes conducive to brainstorming. Those who prefer working alone can head back to their cubicles.

It's like being surveilled

The idea of having an open office feels like people are surveilled all the time. Their employers seem not to trust them with their tasks or their ability to get things done. Employees also become suspicious of their colleagues. They start to compare themselves to each other. They see that some employees spend hours talking to each other while they're spending too much time on their computers. It doesn't mean that those who discuss ideas aren't productive. To avoid these unnecessary comparisons, open offices need to go.

Employees might resign

Even your top employee might decide to leave under this setup. You don't want people to feel that they need to be aware of their actions all the time. The lack of privacy and the chance to take a break might be too much for some employees to take. They will decide to walk out of the door and find a better workplace. Remember that not everyone feels motivated by salary when finding a job. Others prefer having a good workplace so they will enjoy heading to work each day. Highly qualified employees can easily find a job that would be suitable for them.

There might be other office layout trends that will come in the future, and it’s okay to give them a shot. However, you need to remember that just because some companies used them to their advantage doesn’t mean you will get the same results.

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