[iamdave]

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.

[madengr]

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.

[ConceptJunkie]

Those fabric cubicles absorb a lot of sound. I miss them.

[noir_lord]

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.

[iamdave]

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.

[Arizhel]

I used to have a private cubicle, around 2000-2004. I didn't like it too much at the time. I really miss it now. Life was better back then.

[robalfonso]

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.

[madengr]

I've been at the same place for 21 years, though each year I swear I'm going to quit. I could be here another 21 until I'm 67.