by Silva Payne

Created on: March 11, 2010

Working in an open plan office has become common place for many employees. This can have advantages, but the disadvantages must also be considered. In many cases, open plan offices are large and can hold over 100 employees. There are disadvantages to individuals but also to the company as a whole with an open plan office design.

The term "open plan" in an office environment means literally an office where there are no walls dividing the space. The only walls in place are those around the perimeter. Within the open plan office, work space can be divided by using temporary panels to form cubicles. The space can also be divided by the placement of desks or workstations. Often these are placed in groups of 4, with the workers sitting facing each other.

The main disadvantage of an open plan office is the lack of privacy. While employees should not expect to carry out their private business while they should be working, a certain amount of privacy is usually needed to do their required work. In a job that includes taking and making telephone calls the need for a relatively quiet environment is high. Some background chatter is acceptable, but with everyone taking calls at the same time, the noise can be distracting. it can also make it difficult for the person on the other end of the line to hear what your employee is saying.

Open plan offices make it more difficult for managers to enforce discipline among their staff in a sensitive way. Few people like to be chastised in public. Most people also feel uncomfortable if they have to witness someone else being criticised or told off. The lay out of an open plan office means that sound travels widely and everyone can not only hear but also see when someone is being hauled over the coals.

Another disadvantage of an open plan office is that infection from viruses and bacteria is more likely. It is not uncommon for a whole team to go down with the same symptoms in quick succession when they work in an open plan office. Even with good hygiene such as antibacterial hand wash and disposable wipes, illness can quickly spread through workers in an open plan office. 

Open plan offices are difficult to heat or keep cool to all the employees satisfaction. Those who sit furthest away from the radiators, which are usually located around the outside of the room, are likely to feel cold. If the radiators are turned up, those who sit right next to them are just as likely to be peeling off the clothing layers and complaining of heat exhaustion! Finding a happy medium where just one or two thin layers of clothing is adequate for everyone to work comfortably is very difficult to achieve.

Those employees who work in an open plan office and who sit facing other workers may display symptoms of depression because they have no distraction from their computer screens or the activity of the office. Workers who have a seat near to a window may often feel more comfortable and may also be more productive. Providing alternatives for workers to look at, such as fish tanks or plants, can help maintain levels of concentration among staff in an open plan office.

Open plan offices are popular with employers, but rarely as popular with employees. Managing the space and giving each employee adequate room to work is the key to minimising the disadvantages of open plan office design.

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