Dr. Gleb Tsipursky – The Office Whisperer
Nirit Cohen – WorkFutures
Angela Howard – Culture Expert
Drew Jones – Design & Innovation
Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Offices with open plan concepts have enabled a healthier flow of communication and collaboration between staff.
This layout has also helped business owners cut down costs on construction, material and equipment thanks to the shared nature of these spaces. So why don’t all companies adopt this layout?
Despite its benefits, open offices can also come with distractions due to a lack of privacy. As a result, productivity can take a big hit.
According to an Oxford Economics study of 1,200 UK executives, the noise and lack of personal space in these offices have made it hard for employees to concentrate, hurting their ability to produce good work.
Additionally, 58% respondents from various industries such as software, creative and marketing said they craved more private areas for problem solving and 54% found their current working environment too distracting.
In order to best accommodate workers of all styles, it is vital for business owners to receive input from employees and see what they need to get their best work done.
Open-plan offices can be executed well, so long as there are areas that suit all work styles. This can be done by incorporating soundproof phone booths or private offices for individual work.
