Though the open office was created to counter the isolation associated with cubles, it quickly became evident that there are downsides to shared workspace areas; mainly unwanted noise levels and increased distraction. 

Pods, to a certain extent, have become the cubicles of the 21st century as workers increasingly seek them out for privacy and quietness. Noise is the number one complaint among open-plan office users; it’s a chaotic vessel. Though open office seem great in theory, they’re far from perfect in practice. 

The open-office has faced significant backlash in recent years, with research arguing that these spaces do more harm than good to workers. To combat this, companies are trying to figure out a way to add more privacy to these spaces without harming the collaboration they typically encourage. The solution many have opted for are phone booths or pods. 

Companies are also learning that what workers value most is choice, so they are increasingly providing different work environments that people can move through as the day goes by.