Business

Open Debate: Many Companies Move Toward Open vs. Private Workspaces (HITS)

Wide open spaces aren’t all they’re cracked up to be in the office, a new survey of workers shows. Employees polled by staffing firm Robert Half said open floor plans are among the least productive and most stressful work environments. Yet they are becoming more popular. The majority (56 percent) of human resources (HR) managers whose companies have changed their workspaces in recent years said their companies moved to an open floor plan to enhance collaboration.

“Office design should not be a one-size-fits-all approach,” said Paul McDonald, senior executive director for Robert Half. “Companies considering a change should create a layout that brings out their team’s best performance. Frequently, the optimal office setup includes a mix of private workspaces and meeting areas for collaboration.”

Additional findings from the surveys:

-While 65 percent of workers surveyed conceded that open floor plans help with collaboration, they also said that other office configurations, including private offices (60 percent), semi-private cubicles (68 percent) and a combination of open and private spaces (69 percent) can be collaborative.

-Employees who work in open floor plans and semi-private cubicles cited the lowest productivity levels due to their workspace. Workers with private offices cited the highest levels of productivity.

-One-third of professionals working in private cubicles said their workspace configuration hinders collaboration.

-Fifty-nine percent of those with private offices said their workspace makes them feel relaxed. Those working in semi-private cubicles and open floor plans reported the most amount of stress (31 percent and 25 percent respectively) due to their workspace configuration.

Added McDonald, “It’s not practical for every employee to have a private or even semi-private office, but employers should pay attention to the overall workplace design to ensure there are both collaboration spaces and places for employees to quietly get work done. An attractive office setting could be a deciding factor for a candidate during the hiring process.”