While standing desks may seem like a great alternative monetarily, think about it in terms of square footage: research shows the popularity of open office plans dropped the square footage per employee by one-third in the past seven years.
One study found that purchasing 50 cubicles cost around $60,000, while 50 individual standing desks would only set your business back $24,000. When members of teams are in close proximity to each other, they’ll opt to communicate in real-time more often than turning to sending an email or instant message.īreaking down walls and replacing standing desks with one long table is a no-brainer if you’re concerned about costs.
Instead, separate employees based off of teams or groups that already collaborate daily. If situated away from the coworkers they typically collaborate with, employees are more likely to turn to email or instant message to contact them. Sitting employees next to each other randomly seems like it would foster communication and collaboration that otherwise wouldn’t happen, when in reality it could do more harm than good. Proponents of open office layouts often cite increased collaboration as a major selling factor, but this positive only applies if the layout is done correctly. Rather than incorporating a focus on natural light and plenty of space between employees, modern open office layouts tend to cram employees into a small space, placing them side-by-side for “enhanced collaboration and productivity.” There may be positive aspects of this office layout, but the numerous cons prove the idealized version of open office spaces is far from reality. But the open office layout Wright created is far different than the one touted by offices around the globe. Tearing down walls meant more employees could fit into the same sized space without increasing operational costs. In the aftermath of the 2008 recession, the modern open office plan originally designed by 20th century architect Frank Lloyd Wright became the answer to the economic and population strains of the workforce. Doing the research and picking the right layout can mean the difference between stagnation and success. Here, we’ll take a deep dive into the pros and cons of the open office layout and identify which types of businesses can benefit from it most. Open office spaces may not be right for every employer or employee, but are there positive aspects to the layout at all?
But what most won’t tell you is that open office spaces are riddled with distractions, often doing the opposite of what they are intended: dragging productivity down. A collaborative environment where walls barely exist, lounge areas are in every corner, and snacks and ideas can be easily shared with coworkers around you. Everyone likes to boast about open office spaces as if they’re the best thing since sliced bread.
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