Why open offices are bad for us - and if not, let executives join their workers From my own experience it takes me a good 4 hours to finish my monthly report at work (often longer if there are lots of interruptions), and I get it done at home in about half of that time because I work completely uninterrupted and focussed. It's also true that I see many people talking to each other, but it is usually not about work. There is just too much eye contact and my problem also is that if I see people, I comment and am part of discussions. When I have the opportunity of working at one client's offices weekly where there is a close office, I really manage to catch up on my work. I don't think employers realise how counter-productive these open offices often are. I think it is all still based on 1970's consultation, and look how wrong we have realised other advice was that emerged from that era. If employers think their employees are all working hard because they are sitting in the office, then they are really delusional. The sad part is that it is just not an issue for top executives of an organisation as they all sit in closed offices with a secretary outside! If we are to be open office, then let the executives join the rest of us so we can also collaborate and speak with them during the day. From the article: His staff had been exclusively working from home, but he wanted everyone to be together, to bond and collaborate more easily. It quickly became clear, though, that Nagele had made a huge mistake. Everyone was distracted, productivity suffered and the nine employees were unhappy, not to mention Nagele himself. Numerous companies have embraced the open office — about 70% of US offices are open concept — and by most accounts, very few have moved back into traditional spaces with offices and doors. But research that we’re 15% less productive, we have immense trouble concentrating and we’re twice as… http://bit.ly/2itZV4R
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