The open office concept seemed like the ideal model for the evolutionized workplace— an environment where everyone collaborates and is constantly bouncing ideas off each other to create a team bond like no other.
Unfortunately, while this concept seems innovative, the inevitable noise and distractions may be counterproductive to work.
“Just because I wasn’t in a room where this conversation could have got completed without distraction, my productivity levels came down,” said Kamal Karanth, co-founder of specialist staffing firm Xpheno. “I wouldn’t recommend this for senior leaders, though it makes for great optics.”
Employees now work in closer proximity to each other, which can contribute to noise levels as well. Some workplaces are taking measures to ensure each employee gets a quiet space to be productive as possible.
For example, RPG Enterprises includes soundproofed rooms and break-away spaces for informal discussions.
RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka said during the open office shift, the company brought down all their partitions in an effort to keep up with the changing office culture. Now, it has found a balance between collaborative and necessary private spaces.
