By The Editor
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Our recent online poll regarding open plan offices has found a majority of voters believe that it is distracting and hinders workplace productivity.
The poll showed that 76 per cent of employers believed that open plan offices decreased productivity, while 16 per cent believed that open plan offices were beneficial in promoting communication and interaction among staff. A further six per cent of employers only felt open plan offices worked effectively if it was open plan for all staff, including managers.
The result followed reports some workplaces were considering ‘open plan’ office etiquette training to ensure that staff learn to minimise distractions and improve productivity.
VECCI Workplace Relations Manager – Policy, Alexandra Marriott, offers her thoughts on these results:
“The results show that employers are concerned about the productivity of open plan office, with many believing that the open structure is conducive to distractions “Employers may be looking at ways to enjoy the benefits of open plan offices but also find ways to minimise such distractions.
“The old-style ‘cubicles’ can be a little isolating for employees and can stifle creativity, which is why so many workplaces have moved away from that style.
“In recent times employers have embraced open plan offices to maximise space and allow employees more room to work.
“Open plan offices have benefits in terms of flow of communication, social interaction and staff morale, but this can come at the cost of productivity.
“The reality is that most office lay-outs have positives and negatives – it is about selecting the style that works best for individual workplaces.”
I think open plan offices are good, for those working
in the same dept. Mixing depts in open plan offices
is bad – e.g I.T staff with Customer Service staff, guarantees I.T staff will be less productive.
I vividly remember the last open plan office I was forced to endure. During the 18 months in it I learned the most intimate details of the next desk lady’s medical issues and love life (or lack of it) from having to hear her incessant string of personal phone calls through out the day.
Open plan offices are also an open invitation for anyone to drop in and disturb your work with footy chatter and personal problems.
I have never been able to understand why many companies and office designers think that open plan environments actually increase productivity. I would calculate that they probably reduce productivity by 30-40%