Seating Arrangements at Work - Please Share Your Experiences

[Anonymous]

This WP column reminded me of an open space floor plan that's coming to my job and causing everyone major anxiety.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/atwork-advice-dealing-with-tighter-workspaces/2013/01/30/cdaae83e-5c39-11e2-88d0-c4cf65c3ad15_allComments.html?ctab=all_&

Please share your experiences - good, bad, and ugly.

[Anonymous]

I know only through word-of-mouth - there was an office of about 12 people that went "open". I think the only person who had a private office was the director. They didn't even have cubicles - just open space with desks in it. It was supposed to break down barriers between people and allow them to function more effectively across the organization.

A couple years later, they divided the space up again with partitions. Experiment failed. No one could get any work done.

[Anonymous]

Ugh it's the new trend. Some of our company's offices have done it, and a friend of mine's, too. Everyone hates it -- no privacy, too loud, etc. They want people to interact more but the environment is so distracting people end up wearing earphones while they work, which defeats the purpose.

My DD has severe ADHD and knowing how it is for her, I can't imagine a person with this trying to work in such an environment.

[Anonymous]

Hireling is the big wave now - you get assigned a new space every morning.

[Anonymous]

Saw the first comment about how open plan office spaces leads to " decreased productivity, increased turnover and stress." Was going to say that I read the same thing. That that kind of space creates hostility among coworkers because people need a certain amount of privacy to feel secure. Re Hireling, that sounds like a good idea. Would love to see that at our office.

[Anonymous]

Open space floor plans majorly suck. People need a little bit of privacy, a little bit of quiet, and freedom from distraction.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely cannot work with my back to the door. If I had to have a cubicle where people came up behind me all the time, I would have to quit my job! It's almost like a claustrophobia thing for me. I cannot stand having someone behind me and not know that they are there. When I was in college I always used to sit in the back row or on the side of the room (sort of angled so the side wall was almost behind me). Luckily, I have a good, stable job with great job security and a private office in which I can sit facing the door!!!

[Anonymous]

Once a week I work in an open-plan location. It's not terrible, but there's definitely a noise issue. Most people are respectful enough not to do things like listen to a call on speaker phone, but there are occasional faux pas. There's also a cadre of 20 something workers who socialize loudly. They talk freely about their weekend adventures with no discretion for who might be listening.

I have also worked in the hoteling model. Most of my colleagues hated it, but I didn't mind. It forced me to keep my printed papers to a minimum and stay organized. Some days I'd get stuck with a real chatter for an office mate, but most of the time people were friendly and respectful. Worst part of hoteling was having to lug my laptop home every night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hireling is the big wave now - you get assigned a new space every morning.

Do you have a link for this? Can't find it on Google.

[Anonymous]

22:18 here. I believe the pp meant hoteling, not hireling

[Anonymous]

I've worked in both. It takes some time to get used to the open plan, for sure. When I first started it was incredibly distracting. BUT, I got some headphones (the big cover your entire ear kind) and I was able to focus. I didn't think I would like it at all, but it does create a commendatory amidst your co-workers, especially if your work is inter-related. In the end, I wound up liking it. Give it a chance and see.

[Anonymous]

PP here. I should mention, we were not "hoteling" -- everyone did have their own desk/computer/chair -- just no walls. (It was a newsroom-type environment.)

I think I would hate "hoteling."

[Anonymous]

I hated it. I don't have ADHD or anything but do get distracted somewhat easily. Also, I'm really sensitive to noise so pretty quiet, and some other people have bad hearing which causes them to talk loudly and that is very rage-inducing to me.

When I have a cubical, I do not sit facing the bottom line of the U which would put my back to the opening. I sit at one of the vertical lines, kind of at a diag. so I'm practically fully facing the opening.

[Anonymous]

I have my first office in over 15 years of working. Previously, I worked in cubes. At least they were cubes with high walls.

Now I have my own office with a window and a door. It's great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have my first office in over 15 years of working. Previously, I worked in cubes. At least they were cubes with high walls.

Now I have my own office with a window and a door. It's great.

Do you work with the Feds?