Are open offices the best new thing in the corporate world? Technology giants like Google and Apple have embraced the idea of open offices, and a lot of other corporations have started getting on board with it as well. There are advantages and disadvantages to this style of office, and whether or not it will work for you heavily depends on your personality and line of work.
The Pros of an Open Office:
Collaboration
If you and another colleague or two are working on a project together, physically being in the same room can help you collaborate to work out issues or make plans. Since you’re so close to one another, it’s much easier to ask questions or make suggestions by pulling your chair over to the other person’s desk than it is to completely stop what you’re doing to walk down to their office or cubicle.
Brainstorming
You’re bound to get stuck eventually when you’re coming up with ideas for a new marketing strategy or new smartphone app, but if you’re constantly surrounded by colleagues, you can easily get everyone’s input and start a group discussion.
Laid-back Atmosphere
Open offices tend to have a more casual atmosphere than traditional offices, so you can expect a more casual dress code of jeans and button-downs (as opposed to suits and ties), more social interactions, and perhaps a regular office-sanctioned happy hour with your co-workers.
Getting to Know Your Colleagues Personally
You’re all stuck together in one giant room, so it’s inevitable that you will learn a lot more about each other than you would if you each had your own offices - like how Brian always eats Chipotle every day for lunch or that Jenna loves listening to NPR as she works.
Fewer Formal Meetings
Impromptu meetings are nearly impossible in a traditional office, but they’re commonplace in an open office. You know everyone’s schedules and they all know yours, so whenever you all happen to be there at the same time and need to discuss something, you can jump right in.
The Cons of an Open Office:
Less Productivity
The biggest disadvantage of an open office is that it can drastically reduce productivity for a number of reasons. There’s bound to be a mix of people in the office, and some of them may not like being surrounded by co-workers for eight hours a day, so their efficiency may plummet. Then, there are others who do like being surrounded by people, and they may start chatting more than working.
Distracting
People are constantly walking in and out of the office, playing music a little too loud on their headphones, or are eating very aromatic lunches, so it’s easy to lose focus a bit. Even with headphones on, you can still get distracted when someone laughs loudly or starts drawing a flowchart on the whiteboard.
Lack of Privacy
Everyone can see your computer screen, everyone knows when you’re using the bathroom for a long time, or when you accidentally snort during a funny YouTube video. Almost nothing is private, which can make you feel self-conscious of your every move.
Stress-inducing
Knowing that you’re constantly being watched by other people can definitely increase your stress level. Even if you have nothing to hide, the idea that other people are possibly checking up on you can give you anxiety, thus decreasing your productivity.
Illnesses
A recent study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information showed that workers in open offices take an average of 62% more sick days than their counterparts who work in individual offices or cubicles. If someone comes in with a cold or the flu, you’re a lot more likely to catch it since you’re all sharing the same space.
