Who here works in office without walls/cubicles?

[mikegg]

I'll be working in a new job soon and during the interview, I noticed that there are no cubicles and no walls. There are just rows of employees working next to each other.

This kind of scares me because I like to have my walls around me. If anyone can see what you're doing on your computer then you got to be productive for all 8 hours.

Anyone with experience working without walls/cubicles? Thoughts and tips/

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd rather cut my cock off than work in an environment like that.

I need privacy while I prepare my plans for world domination... er, I mean do the job my employer hired me to do.

 

[saratoga172]

I'm in an office we've dubbed the IT area. 4 of us work in there with our manager having an office inside it. The other 3 of us are sitting in cubes but we can see what each other is working on.

About to move into an office across the hall for a promotion I took. Nice big open window everyone can see into.

 

[xanis]

I currently work in an open-plan office. I had a temp job that had me working in cube land and I wanted to blow my brains out.

 

[trmiv]

I interviewed at a place like that. No way could I work like that.

 

[bigrash]

I work in a cubicle. Worked at a open office for years, and it didn't bug me.

 

[ussfletcher]

I work in a place that has furniture similar to this

But instead of being in a diagonal line like that we sit in circular groups of 4 with our backs to each other.

It was odd at first, but it works out, and I kinda like it now.

 

[mmntech]

I work in a closet with a tiny window in the door. It's depressing really. Though our new studio is going to be a fishbowl. I'm not too thrilled about that either.

 

[Jumpem]

I wouldn't do it. I like having at least the little bit of privacy that cube walls provide.

 

[mmntech]

This kind of scares me because I like to have my walls around me. If anyone can see what you're doing on your computer then you got to be productive for all 8 hours.

I've seen studies that show just the opposite, that it reduces productivity by increasing distraction. A lot of people focus better in quieter environments. Open office plans only work, IMO, in collaborative, creative environments. They make little sense for paper pushers. HR people like them though because the gurus say it's better. Management likes open offices because it saves on furniture costs by eliminating the need to purchase cubicle walls. I'm quite happy in my closet, thanks.

And yes, my studio literally was a closet. Used to be where they kept the video archive. Just shelves of Betacam and DV tapes. The new studio will be a lot better. I'll also get my own private washroom since we don't have any male presenters yet, but they built a men's dressing room.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

All you folks saying "no way!" Are you saying you like being cube monkeys?

 

[Jumpem]

All you folks saying "no way!" Are you saying you like being cube monkeys?

Well it's much better than being in an open office.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Well it's much better than being in an open office.

It's finally happened! The end is near. Corporations have finally managed to breed a group of humans who LIKE living in a rat maze doing boring work. The zombie invasion has begun. Kill yourselves now before the rest of the world is infected!

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's finally happened! The end is near. Corporations have finally managed to breed a group of humans who LIKE living in a rat maze doing boring work. The zombie invasion has begun. Kill yourselves now before the rest of the world is infected!

My cube is in the corner and you have to walk down a cube hall with the heads of the people I have killed on my way up the corporate ladder lining the way. I prefer it this way.

 

[brianmanahan]

i worked in a "bullpen" environment

and i hated every minute of it

 

[mrkun]

I work in an office like this. It's good for collaborating and being social with coworkers, but it sucks if you need to focus or be on the phone.

 

[olds]

Nah, I have an office with a window and a door. Normally I share it with a co-worker but she retired this month.
I get there at 6 AM, turn on the TV and the news, get my coffee and get to work.

My other co-workers get there at 7:30 and are in an open office. They use furniture to wall themselves off as much as possible.

 

[DigDog]

1) dont have walls
2) would love walls
3) impossible to be productive for 9 hours straight w/o the occasional 5 min of me-time

 

[roguerower]

I love my walls! Then again, I have a corner office with two windows (in a construction trailer).

 

[Ausm]

I'll be working in a new job soon and during the interview, I noticed that there are no cubicles and no walls. There are just rows of employees working next to each other.

This kind of scares me because I like to have my walls around me. If anyone can see what you're doing on your computer then you got to be productive for all 8 hours.

Anyone with experience working without walls/cubicles? Thoughts and tips/

How would you be able to fuck off then?? Totally unacceptable in my opinion.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I work by myself at a facility on about 40 or so acres in the middle of nowhere. Great for doing morning running or whatever else I feel like doing. Sometimes I just sit around and soak up the fresh air.

 

[PenguinPower]

I enjoy my 20x13 office with a door and three windows to show me the outside world...it's a view of the parking lot, but at least there are two trees.

Don't think I could work in a cube/open environment.

 

[mitchelt]

I'd rather cut my cock off than work in an environment like that. .

Now that was FUNNY! :biggrin:

 

[hans007]

as a programmer, i hate the open plan office. we have like half height walls and im ok with that, that and our backs are to each other.

but when you have an open one and you can see your coworkers like they are on the other side of your monitor its just crazy. if they move their hand and its in your field of view or whatever it drives you nuts.

at least in my line of work the more isolation you have the better. some project managers opened the blinds and all the devs went crazy and shut them off because it unevenly lit the office and was disorienting. so ill be at my desk, theres barely any sun, beyerdynamic headphones on, with a hoodie on inside the office sometimes.

its hard enough to concentrate, with other people around, this open plan nonsense was just made up by HR consultants so they could recommend something new. its just like project management philosophies. they make up new stuff because they ran out of stuff to consult to your company and they just have to put something out there.

 

[nickbits]

I prefer cubes but work in an open office