New office innovations flourish as the use of Office Systems with technology becomes more prevalent in workplaces and as the value of creativity and collaboration increases. One of the newest changes to occur in some leading-edge workplaces is the construction of what's been termed an “open plan” office. Although the “open plan” office was originally hailed and promoted as a solution to the hemmed in feeling created by cubicles, research has begun to show that open plan offices come with their own set of problems. Instead of feeling free and creatively inspired, employees in open office plans report feeling over stressed due to noise and other disruptions and also state that they feel they have less privacy.
Tip #1: Realize that One Design Doesn't Work Best All the Time
When you understand that neither an open nor a closed plan fits every employee all the time, you're better equipped to help employees deal with their frustrations with office layout. You may have to be flexible in where you have employees work and you may also have to be flexible in allowing your employees to find ways of dealing with their environment. By remaining flexible, you help your employees decrease stress and enable them to do their best work.
Tip #2: Understand that an Open Office Plan Creates Stress
While an open office plan can encourage more collaboration and give employees more opportunities to ask for help from teammates, it also creates stress. Open office plans make for more noise and distractions, which can decrease productivity. Allowing employees to wear headphones or earplugs in an open office environment can help them deal with the noise and distractions and be more productive and happier.
Tip #3: Understand that a Closed Plan Creates Isolation
Open plan offices developed because closed plan offices create isolation and make it more difficult for employees to work together collaboratively. Also, people often tend to feel more creative and get more ideas when they step away from their desk or office. If you're working in a closed office environment, allowing your employees collaboration time or time to work outside of their offices can help staff work more effectively.
Tip #4: Realize that Lack of Boundaries Creates Most Open Office Plan Problems
People's biggest complaints about open office environments really boils down to a lack of boundaries. Complaints include noise and distractions, but they also encompass things like co-workers listening in on conversations and taking things from their desks. If you can encourage employees to set boundaries with their co-workers and respect the boundaries of others, you'll help your staff to make the best of the situation.
Tip #5: Try to Combine the Best of Both Worlds
Your best solution may be an attempt to combine both types of environments. If you currently have a closed plan but have access to meeting rooms or other large rooms, make them available to employees for work on collaborative projects. If you have an open plan office, see if there is a way that employees can use private rooms or access areas with more privacy if they have difficulty concentrating in an open environment or simply need to spend some time working without distraction.
Conclusion
Neither an open plan office space nor a closed plan office environment provides the perfect workplace for everyone all the time, sometimes the best solution can be to ask the opinion of professional Office Fitout teams. The best thing that you can do as an office manager is try to mitigate the problems each one causes and amplify their assets. Stay flexible and help your employees find solutions to keep them happy and productive.
Tip #1: Realize that One Design Doesn't Work Best All the Time
When you understand that neither an open nor a closed plan fits every employee all the time, you're better equipped to help employees deal with their frustrations with office layout. You may have to be flexible in where you have employees work and you may also have to be flexible in allowing your employees to find ways of dealing with their environment. By remaining flexible, you help your employees decrease stress and enable them to do their best work.
- Neither layout is perfect for all employees all the time
- Both have significant drawbacks and advantages
- If you offer flexibility to employees, you're more likely to get their best work
Tip #2: Understand that an Open Office Plan Creates Stress
While an open office plan can encourage more collaboration and give employees more opportunities to ask for help from teammates, it also creates stress. Open office plans make for more noise and distractions, which can decrease productivity. Allowing employees to wear headphones or earplugs in an open office environment can help them deal with the noise and distractions and be more productive and happier.
- An open office environment encourages collaboration but can be more stressful
- They are noisier and have more distractions
- Headphones and earplugs can help employees stay focused and block out distractions
Tip #3: Understand that a Closed Plan Creates Isolation
Open plan offices developed because closed plan offices create isolation and make it more difficult for employees to work together collaboratively. Also, people often tend to feel more creative and get more ideas when they step away from their desk or office. If you're working in a closed office environment, allowing your employees collaboration time or time to work outside of their offices can help staff work more effectively.
- Closed plan offices make collaboration more difficult
- Time away from a desk or office leads to greater creativity
- Allowing employees time outside of their office can increase their productivity
Tip #4: Realize that Lack of Boundaries Creates Most Open Office Plan Problems
People's biggest complaints about open office environments really boils down to a lack of boundaries. Complaints include noise and distractions, but they also encompass things like co-workers listening in on conversations and taking things from their desks. If you can encourage employees to set boundaries with their co-workers and respect the boundaries of others, you'll help your staff to make the best of the situation.
- Open office problems result from lack of boundaries
- Encourage employees to set boundaries with each other
- Encourage them to respect the boundaries of others
Tip #5: Try to Combine the Best of Both Worlds
Your best solution may be an attempt to combine both types of environments. If you currently have a closed plan but have access to meeting rooms or other large rooms, make them available to employees for work on collaborative projects. If you have an open plan office, see if there is a way that employees can use private rooms or access areas with more privacy if they have difficulty concentrating in an open environment or simply need to spend some time working without distraction.
- Do what you can to maximize all space in your work environment
- In an open environment, let staff use private areas when possible
- In a closed environment, let staff use meeting rooms for collaboration
Conclusion
Neither an open plan office space nor a closed plan office environment provides the perfect workplace for everyone all the time, sometimes the best solution can be to ask the opinion of professional Office Fitout teams. The best thing that you can do as an office manager is try to mitigate the problems each one causes and amplify their assets. Stay flexible and help your employees find solutions to keep them happy and productive.
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