Why do we think that we need only one kind of workspace that meets all of our criteria? Can't we have an office with a variety of different workspaces that we can move between as our needs change?
-supporting exactly what you are saying. This notion that we each have a static workspace seems archaic, and an ideal world is one where people work in varied situations according to need: Sometimes privacy and quiet is ideal, and sometimes noise and chaos is invigorating. As much as the private office/anti-open plan thing appears on here, it's amazing how often tech workers love working in cafes, libraries, or accelerators that are like open plan offices to a few magnitudes.
Can't we have an office with a variety of different workspaces that we can move between as our needs change?
This would require companies to invest in their people beyond "Here's your paycheck, here's your healthcare, be glad we're giving you this much". Granted, some companies do-and some probably do come with a variety of workspaces. I used to work at one, but I don't know how many people would answer in the affirmative if polled how commonplace they expect that sort of workplace to be.
Healthcare? Hell, we just had our dental insurance dropped. Healthcare is now a $10k OOPM at rates 3x what they were 10 years ago.
The open office plan could work with tall, fabric cubicles. My place now uses short, glass & aluminum ones. Not to mention people chit chat too much. I'm an EE and have to think about complex stuff; I can't think with the chit-chat; breaks my squelch.
Fortunately I have a lab I can retreat to. Thinking about moving in there permanently.
Cubicles where original marketed as "Action Offices" there is a book on the history of them called Cubed: A secret history of the workplace.
The creator of them came to regret his creation as they where subverted in a direction he never expected.
I've often wondered what a modern cubicle if designed today would look like, we've done wonders in computer modeling and such since even sound dampening designs would be much easier.
A desk with a single wall in the front, behind where your displays would sit, and a frosted glass pane demarcating rows. "We're not an open design", but you don't exactly have anything remotely resembling a private workspace either.
For a long time people could spend their whole career at one company - now not so much, do you think we may be swinging back to that?
From a business perspective its better to keep your high performers as long as you can - pay them what they are worth since someone else will any ways.
https://dennisforbes.ca/index.php/2017/03/20/mindful-softwar...
-supporting exactly what you are saying. This notion that we each have a static workspace seems archaic, and an ideal world is one where people work in varied situations according to need: Sometimes privacy and quiet is ideal, and sometimes noise and chaos is invigorating. As much as the private office/anti-open plan thing appears on here, it's amazing how often tech workers love working in cafes, libraries, or accelerators that are like open plan offices to a few magnitudes.