At this point, you’ve probably heard all about the open office layout that is becoming so popular in today’s workplaces. It’s becoming less and less common to see those “cube farms” in offices. There are a lot of reasons for this shift in design, and they are practical for certain businesses. However, an open office layout won’t work for every business and every type of employee. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide for yourself:
 

 

Open Office Layout Perks

The primary argument for the open office supporters is the way it allows for collaboration between coworkers. Breaking down the walls does indeed foster communication and teamwork, making everyone more accessible. Other benefits include:

• More “culture collision,” or chance encounters between all employees, which promotes overall team bonding and understanding. These interactions essentially build the mood of the office, so promote frequent, positive meetings in this way.
• The open office layout is a flexible office layout. Without cubicle walls to take up space, workstations and tables can be reconfigured as many times as necessary in a day.
• Cost-effectiveness: less furniture equals less money spent. An open office layout is a more minimalist approach to design.
• Open office spaces make the best use of natural lighting, which, in turn, is cost-effective and environmentally-friendly.

Open Office Layout Shortcomings

As mentioned in the beginning of this post, the open office layout is not right for every business. Sometimes it can be detrimental to productivity. In fact, one third to one half of office employees have feelings of anxiety toward this setup. Some other problems that arise with the open office layout include:

• Can increase stress level for some employees. Privacy is essentially eliminated when the cubicle walls are taken down.
• An open office layout can accommodate more employees than a cubicle configuration, so some employees might find themselves dealing with more distractions.
• For introverts who require a quiet space to work, noise levels could be bad for concentration.

A study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, found that office workers lost even more time; as much as three to five hours of their time was spent dealing with various interruptions in an open office layout.The open office floor plan is a dynamic, cost-effective, and modern solution when it comes to office and workspace design. However, when it comes to creating the perfect workplace, employers must know what will work best for its employees. Need help getting started? Drop us a line; we’d love to help.
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About Jasmin

Jasmin handles Internet sales and digital marketing here at Creative Office Furniture. She's been a valuable member of the Creative team since March 2014.[/author_info] [/author]