07 May 2016
Posted by Dorothy Burroughs 
There are two types of office spaces that are popular nowadays: the open office layouts and the old school cubicles. In the age of Millennials, many companies are adapting to the open office culture. But, there are still some that do not waver. Each type of office space has its advantages and disadvantages.
Some companies undergo renovation to adapt to these changes. Once it’s time to buy office items, they have two choices: get new ones or save money and the environment by buying used office furniture.
Open Offices: The New Office Layout
In the United States, around 70 percent of workplaces have this kind of office floor plans.
Open offices promote brainstorming among coworkers, promoting an open line of communication. Mingling with fellow employees promotes teamwork and that is good for business.
But, as reports suggest, they might not be as great as people make them out to be. Unfortunately, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. Workers are more prone to infecting each other with illnesses and distractions due to noise pollution. Also, it may affect the productivity rate of employees.
According to Rebecca Rosen’s article on The Atlantic, with the new layout, “Noise, visual and aural, makes concentration difficult, such that headphones become the new walls. And hierarchies don’t disappear when you place everyone at a communal table or ‘superdesk’; they persist in more subtle modes of workplace interaction.”
Going Old School with Cubicles
The first time offices had cubicles was back in 1967. Back then, this proved to be a great way to increase employee efficiency at the workplace. This still proves to be true until now.
Open offices offer a chance for co-workers to work together on a daily basis. But, this doesn’t give them the privacy that cubicles provide.
Personal space is important, even in the workplace. This motivates them to concentrate on their work more without any distractions that may hinder them from finishing their work. In solace, employees can feel a rush of productivity when there are no outside elements to disturb their thinking.
But, amidst all this, there is still a debate on which layout is better.
So, is the shift worth it? With the arrival of Millennials, office spaces are beginning to change as well. But, it’s the employers who see the results. Whether they choose to have an open layout or cubicle-filled workplace is their call.
