So I've got some interest from an employer about a new job. The only thing I didn't like about the place when I interviewed was the work environment. Everyone, and I mean everyone (executives included, no one has an office) sit in these small cubicles with partitions that are waist high. Also there are very few walls in the entire office. It's just this very large open space with no walls and these rows and rows of cubicles with very low walls. Each row is two cubicles that face each other, so other than looking at your monitor, you're basically staring face to face with the person that sits across from you. It basically looks like this except the cubicle walls are about 5" tall instead of the over a foot they appear in that picture.
It was told to me that this setup is supposed to "foster collaboration" and help all employees "feel equal and able to contribute." To me it was just odd. Anyway, this job pays about the same as what I make now, but it's much closer to my house (5 miles instead of 20, no freeway travel), it's also a permanent position (I'm currently a contractor, although once I reach the 6-month mark it's pretty much guaranteed I'll be made full-time).
I'm not sure I could get used to that work setup though because I currently have my own office. I do desktop support, so I have my own locked key-card access office so I can work on computers and store equipment without worry of it walking away. This setup also keeps users from having direct access to us so they must contact the help desk before 2nd level support gets involved, which is something management requires.
Does anyone work at a place like this with the low cubicles? Is it difficult to get used to? It seems like there is a lack of privacy, and it would be a pain to get anything done because people can just walk up and start gabbing any time they want. Plus it seems like it would be loud.
It was told to me that this setup is supposed to "foster collaboration" and help all employees "feel equal and able to contribute." To me it was just odd. Anyway, this job pays about the same as what I make now, but it's much closer to my house (5 miles instead of 20, no freeway travel), it's also a permanent position (I'm currently a contractor, although once I reach the 6-month mark it's pretty much guaranteed I'll be made full-time).
I'm not sure I could get used to that work setup though because I currently have my own office. I do desktop support, so I have my own locked key-card access office so I can work on computers and store equipment without worry of it walking away. This setup also keeps users from having direct access to us so they must contact the help desk before 2nd level support gets involved, which is something management requires.
Does anyone work at a place like this with the low cubicles? Is it difficult to get used to? It seems like there is a lack of privacy, and it would be a pain to get anything done because people can just walk up and start gabbing any time they want. Plus it seems like it would be loud.
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