There are many advantages to allow remote access and to enable your team when they’re on the go but what about your team’s in office experience? Facebook has has adopted an “innovative” open air office design for its engineers and has gained national recognition in the process. Even Michael Bloomberg has embraced the concept as a business leader and brought it with him when he came to City Hall as Mayor of New York, sighting it as a symbol of open communication and accessibility to the city’s chief.
Photo Credit: New York Times
These examples are often highlighted in the media as successful innovation and as a best practice or benchmark for other organizations. However, have they delivered the productivity gains that they were designed for? Much of the focus has been placed on the innovator who championed the change in workspace, but little is discussed about the outcome and impact on corporate culture and employee performance. Is this best for everyone?
The aim of an open air workspace is to “promote transparency and fairness” and to foster collaboration. Many managers are agreeable to the redesign because it allows them to keep a closer eye on their employees and cut down on non-work related activities (social media, texting, personal calls etc.) However, much of the feedback reported from employees has sounded like, “nothing was private”, “it was too noisy,” “very distracting” and report a negative impact on their productivity. Many employees resort to wearing headphones to block out the noise. So what have we really accomplished other than removing walls if folks are still working in their own silos?
Designing the best workplace for your teams is just like choosing the right technology for your business – it’s not a one size fits all scenario. If you’re considering a redesign, take time to talk with your teams and learn more about their needs. Find out whats working, what isn’t and ultimately what can be improved. The open air concept might be beneficial for an engineering team working on the same project but could be disastrous for the accounting department. Make sure you’re next office refresh is one that both management an employees can benefit from.
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