Open floor plan office space is something that is now on my mind. Recently, we purchased a new office building. And, within a few days of the close on the property, my vice president for operations brought me an article about open spaces. Candidly, our offices are open spaced. The management team does have private offices. However, it’s rare for those office doors to close. But yes, managers have a sense of privacy when necessary.
As we begin the planning for the new offices, moving away from an open floor plan office is a topic for discussion. Although it’s a decision that every company leader has to decide for themselves, the research is compelling.
An open floor plan office and a bad boss
There are several reasons why a CEO may want to reconsider open spaces. One of the top ones is that it produces open plan office anxiety. What is that you ask? It’s a condition that exists in employees when they work in open spaces. The causes of anxiety, which leads to stress and lower productivity are several. For instance, one of the top reasons why employees may get anxious is if they have a boss that is a terrible manager. In an open space, when a worker is at the mercy of a bad (and potentially abusive) boss, this person is in a continual state of “fight or flight.”
The human brain can’t distinguish between the ancient threats of being eaten by an animal on a hunt and, today, being in a stressful situation with a bad manager. The brain processes these two experiences in the same manner, which creates physical stress. That stress lowers productivity because research has shown that workers can get increasingly sick. The body suffers adverse anxiety and stress that can impact the heart, gastric and immune systems.
Open plan office anxiety and women
Another critical challenge with open floor plans in the office is that it adversely impacts women to a higher degree. Unfortunately, we live in a society where many still judge the talent and abilities of women with the way they appear. Women who dress well or are more attractive can be considered more competent by some of their male and female peers. Therefore, an open floor plan office essentially forces women to make sure they pay more attention to how they look.
While it’s acceptable for men, in some work environments, to be sloppier or more casual in their dress and still be an expert for people. The same does not hold for women. Also, an open space can create an environment where sexual harassment occurs, or where men demonstrate their dominance. The tech sector and its male-dominated culture is an example of an industry that likes the open floor plan office, and where sexual harassment problems exist.
And, more problems with open plan offices
There are more issues with open floor plan office spaces, beyond the anxiety. A Harvard study found that open plan office spaces did not have the intended results. The idea was to promote collaboration. However, the Harvard study found that it instead within teams by an astounding 70 percent. As a result, instead of having conversations (which could be overheard by everyone in the space), email and text messaging use increased.
Additionally, workers don’t like working in the fishbowl of an open floor plan office. The majority of people now work in these types of offices, but they prefer a change. They don’t appreciate the complete lack of privacy. They also don’t like the fact that in some offices, the open floor spaces can be loud. If the worker happens to be a talented introverted, they want it even less. It saps their energy and often leaves them with open plan office anxiety. There’s also the visual “noise” that can exist in offices. Those are toys, photos or other visible things that overload someone’s senses. In other words, not everyone is the same and people require different environments for work success.
The answer for happier and more productive teams
For business leaders, the change from an open floor plan office to a more traditional office environment can be very costly. However, this is the 21st Century, and we don’t have to go back to the days of Mad Men. Many models can create a much better work environment that works for all. For instance, some companies offer booths where one or a couple of workers can collaborate in peace. You can also look to businesses that help you optimize your current space. If you’re interested in team dynamics, which leads to success, open plan office anxiety is something that you have to consider. Still, you should think about the costs and benefits of changing, research into credible alternatives and see if you should change your open floor plan office.
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