by Sun Meilan

Created on: March 10, 2010   Last Updated: June 09, 2011

There are undoubtedly a number of advantages to having an open plan office - most notably the heightened levels of communication. Nevertheless, it may not suit every office and sometimes it may be more advantageous to opt for the alternative - a series of enclosed spaces for individuals or small teams of people. Here are the disadvantages of an open plan office. 

Too much communication

Being able to discuss work issues over the top of your cubicle wall can be fantastic if you work in a team and want an immediate response from someone. However, it can also be tempting to talk about more interesting things, such as the television schedule for the coming evening. It only takes one person to bring up a conversation like this to have everyone in the office joining in, so that even those who would prefer to get on with their work can't do so. 

Noise distractions

Even if no-one is talking to you directly, the noise from other people's conversations, telephone calls, the buzz of the printer and photocopier and other people's movements can be incredibly distracting. If you are trying to concentrate on an important piece of work, it can be next to impossible, which results in you having to take work home or stay late and finish it when everyone else is gone. 

Lower levels of security

Stealing is more likely to take place in an open plan office, because it is easier for any member of staff to move around the office unobtrusively. It is also easier for other members of staff to find out just who has the latest mp3 player, or who keeps money in their drawer. Although staff members should have somewhere that they can keep valuables under lock and key, they don't have the added benefit of the locked door to an individual office. 

Not enough room for meetings

Although open plan offices usually have a couple of meeting rooms available for the staff to use, if several people need to use it at once, there can be a conflict. This may involve some meetings having to be held in the middle of the main office, or employees may need to take clients to a nearby coffee shop to conduct business. This runs the risk of looking unprofessional to clients, and business may be lost as a result. 

Health issues

Colds, flu and other infections can spread like wildfire throughout an open plan office. This can severely affect productivity if a number of employees fall ill at the same time and decide to take time off work so that they don't spread their illness. It is also difficult to keep the temperature at the right level for everyone, so some people may end up being too cold and others too warm. Being uncomfortable does not help with either health issues or productivity. 

Not enough distance between ranks

If there are staff members who have worked for the organisation for longer than the others, or who are ranked higher than the others, there can be a lot of bad feeling if they don't have their own offices. The situation can become particularly difficult if managers are forced to give employees bad news about job or wage cuts - if the atmosphere is tense, no-one is going to give a good performance. 

When deciding whether to opt for an open plan office or not, it is important to weigh up both advantages and disadvantages. The chances are that your business type will automatically lend itself to either one or the other. 

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