Could you get used to working like this?

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Anything like this?

That brings back horrible nightmares of my tech support sentence that I carried out at Ameritrade.

As for the question - I couldn't do that. Especially not with my job/current coworkers. I have a bitch of a time trying to filter out conversations. If I'm on the phone trying to listen to somebody and I have someone yacking over my shoulder I have trouble focusing in on the phone call. I don't multitask voices well at all.

Plus I'm kind of territorial by nature. I like having my own space or cave that I can retreat to if needed. That sort of setup wouldn't be able to provide that seperation.

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: krotchy
I worked at a company with low cubicles in my division and high walled ones in the division next door.

The people in my division seemed to enjoy themselves alot more, because we could communicate with people much more easily and it was a much more open environment. High cubicles are depressing in my opinion.

I suppose it depends on what you're doing. Like yllus said, as a developer this would be no good. We don't need constant communication. We need to be left alone to think.

(and maybe nef just a little )

FYI I am an Electrical Engineer, so I do alot of independent development. But play a little quiet music or get some headphones and tuning people out is cake.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Anything like this?

That brings back horrible nightmares of my tech support sentence that I carried out at Ameritrade.

Yeah, but this is at the other end of the building

They actually put a decent cafeteria in where the food court used to be, though.

 

[Tiamat]

those "community" setups are terrible imho. Way too much noise from other people. Plus, i dont like the feeling of someone staring at me while i try to work.

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: jandrews
At my old work, they did this but to make everyone equal they gave everyone offices. These guys got the idea right but tried to apply it in a cheap manner and making the whole idea a disaster. Giving everyone cubes is idiotic especially considering all the sensitive conversations managers have to have with employees. Also, it may show they are cheap in other areas such as salary increases, be wary.

one of my suppliers has this also, everyone in a "bull pen" style area. there are plenty of private conerence rooms to go into for sensitive conversations tho, so it works for them. theyve had this set up for years, and they seem to like it. i liked how the people actually talked while they worked, seemed to add a bit more to the comradery to the workers. i work in a small office with 4 desks in it. i take up about 1/2 the room, so im ok with it. the others always accuse me of moving my desk (8'X7') closer to theirs. i think its funny, because i did do that one month. an inch or so a week, took the girl till the end of the month to figure it out hehe

 

[Steve]

All the better to see teh boobies with.

 

[aceO07]

I think it's just a way to maximize office space and maximize worker productivity. How long could you web surf while people are constantly moving around? Not that work is just ATOT, but at some point you want to take a break and not have people think you're slacking.

I wouldn't like it. I'm easily distracted by noise and visual movements, so I would get very little done. Also I'm a programmer, so I need my space and quiet to think.

 

[alkemyst]

most desktop support guys are lucky to have a larger cube...we have a burn-in room that is used for locking up equipment with card access.

In today's business space models it's common for executives to be given cubes and offices reserved for officers only.

 

[tfinch2]

Here's a pic of my office. The cubicle walls are about waist high for me...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/tfinch2/office.jpg

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Here's a pic of my office. The cubicle walls are about waist high for me...

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/tfinch2/office.jpg

That looks similar to my current setup minus the colors. At our old building, everyone had tall cubicles on one floor (about 5 and a half to 6 feet high) but on another floor, everyone had the community cubicles that had no partitions whatsoever.

Fortunately, I was in the head high cubicle. We moved to a new building and they tried to put everyone on the community cubicles but there was a lot of protests. They compromised and we have cubicles that come up to about my chest...so four and a half to five feet?

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Anything like this?

man that looks more like a computer lab than an office. I'd hate working in that kinda environment

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Steve
All the better to see teh boobies with.

it would only be manboobies for most of us...

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
most desktop support guys are lucky to have a larger cube...we have a burn-in room that is used for locking up equipment with card access.

In today's business space models it's common for executives to be given cubes and offices reserved for officers only.

The last place I worked had cubes, but all the tech support people were in the same area of the building and it was card access only for the IS staff. That way the users had no direct access and we could work on equipment freely. The place I work now has multiple buildings on two campuses in the area, so the support staff is spread out. Because of that I sit on the same area as the users I support, but I have a card access office to keep my equipment safe It's also keep the users way as well. I used to share it with someone but they left for another job and they've never filled the position (more work same pay, yay!!) The management here is very strict about help desk being the first contact and desktop people working ONLY off of tickets.

 

[slsmnaz]

When I was in sales we had that setup and I loved it. However I am the type of person that needs noise to keep my sanity. In college I used to have the TV or radio on when studying because the silence was too much. I've since moved into an office and really don't like it. It just seems like we're all too detached and only see everyone at meetings. I'd go back if I could.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Well five feet tall is one thing, these are like 3.5 feet, if that. It is a nice office, but it's weird. I guess it was a recent thing though. When I interviewed they said they had just changed the office over like two-weeks before, it previously had the regular high-walled cubicles, and executives had offices. Two of the people I interviewed with sounded less than enthusiastic about the change.

If I worked there and they did this change, I'd be looking for a new job.

As it is I'm in a cube with 6' walls and still feel "exposed" and would love nothing more than to have an office.

 

[miniMUNCH]

I hate to say it... but depending upon the job, no cubicle offices like that can be very productive on the whole. Folks don't slack off as much when everyone can see what they are doing.

That being said... I wouldn't want to work in an environment like that because I like to slack off.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Anything like this?

man that looks more like a computer lab than an office. I'd hate working in that kinda environment

That's our workgroup recovery area (as in disaster recovery). They're all empty 95% of the time. I'm in the big blue cube on the far left.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Vonkhan
it's not worth it

I'd even settle for a small pay cut if I was given my own office (currently in a shared office)

QFT

 

[andy04]

Just take what you get... and enjoy your job... while its still in US...

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: jandrews
At my old work, they did this but to make everyone equal they gave everyone offices. These guys got the idea right but tried to apply it in a cheap manner and making the whole idea a disaster. Giving everyone cubes is idiotic especially considering all the sensitive conversations managers have to have with employees. Also, it may show they are cheap in other areas such as salary increases, be wary.

At your old work they did this (cubicles with short walls, everyone in the open) ... except they gave everyone offices? uhh..

 

[ATLien247]

The company one of my friends works for is in the process of building a new office building here in Utah, and apparently they are going with the same idea. My friend said he is definitely not looking forward to it.

 

[puffff]

This is what my work environment looks like. No dividers really between desks. The lack of privacy bothered me a bit when I first started, but it doesnt anymore. I'm usually too busy to be doing 'suspicious' stuff anyways.

It's a bit loud, it can sometimes be distracting, but there's definitely more collaboration amongst coworkers.

(That's not actually my office, it's just an image i found on google. I dont think i'm allowed to bring cameras to work. But yeah, most people have multiple screens, as many as 8, sometimes even more!)

 

[oogabooga]

Originally posted by: puffff
This is what my work environment looks like. No dividers really between desks. The lack of privacy bothered me a bit when I first started, but it doesnt anymore. I'm usually too busy to be doing 'suspicious' stuff anyways.

It's a bit loud, it can sometimes be distracting, but there's definitely more collaboration amongst coworkers.

(That's not actually my office, it's just an image i found on google. I dont think i'm allowed to bring cameras to work. But yeah, most people have multiple screens, as many as 8, sometimes even more!)

what do you do outa curiousity?

Also, my office has lower cubicles, they are tall enough to lean on the top for a normal height individual, our monitors are visible everywhere (Especially if it is on a stand- in fact, half the office can see me type this), and i love it. It makes talking a lot easier, just turn and talk to whoever is around me about projects/problems/sports/etc

 

[m1ldslide1]

Originally posted by: Steve
All the better to see teh boobies with.

Like has been stated - distractions!!

 

[Czar]

I'm in an office with one guy, soon we are adding a third, and I can hardly concetrate when we are both on the phone. But I do prefered it most of the time, good to talk to people in your line of work.

That work area puffff posted scares the hell out of me.