What do you think of open space work arrangements?

What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I've always worked in an office but am not very interested in this company that has an open space work arrangement...in other words, not really cubicles, but everyone just kind of sits in configured desks on the floor in plain sight of one another. I love this company and what they do but I have been spoiled to always have a private office and not sure I could hack it without the privacy. On the other hand, it's a really creative, friendly environment and maybe it would push me to work harder... Has anyone ever worked in a setup like this? What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I work in a place like that. Its just me, one co-worker and the boss. I didn't give any thought about it when I took the job. He has just bought a house and had to whisper and not say everything he might have needed to at the time he was on the phone so there is a privacy sacrafice, but if you don't have anything to hide. Plus, its easier to talk (BS) during the day, you don't have to get up and walk to someone elses desk to talk about what was on friends last night.

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

i wouldn't like it....i like my privacy! I like being able to talk on the phone to my DH or my Mom and not have to whisper or cut it short. At my old job I had an office and in my current job I have a cube and I hate it....no privacy whatsoever - which makes my job hard in some ways - hard to be confidential in HR with a wide open cube - thats just the way the company is! Anyone who is below a VP gets a cube..

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

i can't stand it!!!! the staff in our company all sits in an open work space and they hate it too!! it's good for them it that it's easy to chit chat, but it tends to cause a LOT of distractions (esp if only one or two of them have work and the rest are bored). we also had a major issue with a staff who was a bit of a troublemaker and would get the rest of her area riled up. all you need is one bad seed in a workspace like that, and you notice that everyone's work goes down-hill.

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Currently I am working in the same situation. The only problem I see is when I call a customer and my neighbor is also on the phone I have a hard time hearing the person on the phone.

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I share an office with two other people at work. I thought I would hate it coming from another job where I had my own office, phone line, and door! But I've grown used to it, and dont mind it so much anymore. I think giving it time helps. Now when both of the girls I share my space with are out at the same time, I actually feel lonely! Only drawback i find is the privacy issue, but if you have nothing to hide, its not so bad.

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I work in that now and I actually really like it! Privacy can be an issue but we have a file room that we put a phone line in so if we need privacy we go there. But for work purposes it works well! I manage 2 other people and its easy for me to keep track of what they are working on. Its also a great environment to bounce ideas off each other. THe other day I was doing soemthing and wanted another opinion so all i did was turn my monitor around and ask a coworker.

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Thanks, ladies. Getting all these viewpoints is REALLY helpful to me! Now if I can only get them to give me a job so I can decide if I even want this arrangement. LOL

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I work in the advertising community and in the CREATIVE field it would work ok and in the accounting dept it would work fine..but all other areas it was EXTREMELY HARD.

I dont work in either one of those depts
..at the time the company I worked in had that open floor space plan..what it was ..was a long table divided down the middle by book shelves..but you were in plain sight of the person next to you.
Problems? trying to sked drs appts (whose buisiness is that anyway?), picking RADIO stns to listen to, deciding what foods you could bring in to eat at your desk ( anything fragrant or garlicky= no way)...filing out personal forms: buying a home, getting a loan, buying a car, etc...cannot be done easily out there in the open, etc

usually the only GOOD I could find in that setup was for the higher ups to keep a check on their employees. I think this is totally wrong cuz at some level, you have to treat your employees as ADULTS .

if you are treated as a responsible adult, you tend to act that way

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

Re: What do you think of open space work arrangements?

I once worked in an open space environment and hated it b/c my boss was right next to me and could see/hear everything I did.

I have my own office now and love it!