Open plan offices are emerging across the country but the question remains–are open plan offices better than conventional office layouts? With employees spending upwards of 2000 hours a year (and often more) at their place of work, it’s important that the office space be one of comfort, content and cooperation. Over the last decade, many companies have had to become agile in the face of the changing economy and offices have come to reflect this economic change. As a result, this has created what we now all have come to know as “open plan offices” AKA easily adaptable spaces that accommodate several people in less square footage .
Instead of the traditionally segregating closed-door offices, companies have steered towards open-door workplaces. There are many benefits of tearing down office walls, as well as a few considerations to take into account before you call in the contractors and/or movers.
To assist in the process, let us breakdown some of the pros and cons of the open plan office space.
Pros:
Agile – the lack of set walls and doors allows the space to have the potential to grow as your business grows. Desks, tables and chairs can easily be moved around to accommodate the changing landscape of your employee structure.
Communication – Colleagues can easily communicate with each other without the barrier of walls and doors. There is less need for dedicated meeting rooms if staff members can simply pull up a chair and discuss matters in a shared space.
Teamwork – When colleagues are all in the one space they are less segregated, able to form better relationships and typically feel a part of the same team.
Cons:
Privacy – An open plan office means everybody can hear everything, which means serious or confidential meetings may need to be taken offsite.
Distractions – without a dedicated ‘do not disturb’ sign tacked to the office door, it might be difficult for employees to shut themselves off in order to meet an urgent deadline. “Hoteling” spaces may need to be created where employees can reserve quiet locations for intermittent meetings or specific needs, such as confidential discussions.
Noise – It stands to reason that while the space is now open and breezy, noise will also be travelling easier than before. The overall noisiness of the office may increase.
It’s important to consider all of the above reasoning before deciding to play around with the floor plan of your office. If you do decide to change the layout of your office, ensure you contact a professional office furniture company to ensure the change is thoughtfully executed. You need to make sure that space planning and design, including any necessary sound masking and storage requirements, are considered in the process.
At Advanced Furniture Solutions, we provide employers with the right tools to support today’s evolving shared workspace environments. It is our goal to give you the best customer experience possible while creating your dream workspace. Give us a call at (904) 398-0807, contact us online, or visit our showroom at 9452 Philips Highway #7, Jacksonville, FL 32256 Hours: Monday-Friday, 08:00-5:00. You can also visit our second (NEW LOCATION) at 1801 S. Nova Rd., Ste. 107, South Daytona, FL 32119. (386) 262- 1014. Hours: Monday-Friday, 08:00-5:00. Saturdays by appointment. Closed Sundays.
Let our experts assist you in developing practical and effective office solutions that will get you on the right track to improved workplace wellness, productivity, and inspiration.
Jacksonville’s only Kimball Select Dealer and named as one of the Fastest 50 Growing Businesses by the Jacksonville Business Journal in 2016, 2017 & 2018, Advanced Furniture Solutions is a premier woman-owned office furniture and commercial flooring store in Jacksonville, Florida. A certified 8M, Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), AFS has been providing sustainable and affordable office solutions to organizations of all shapes and sizes in the Jacksonville area for over 20 years.
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This article was written in conjunction with Office removalist Hire A Mover.