Work in Office? Do they have cubicles or an open office environment? (2013, owner)

[squirrels]

I work in a federal building, there's 9 of us in our office but only three have actual offices. The rest are in really big cubicles (mine could comfortably fit two people working). They all point out into a sort of common area though, so I guess I'd call it a mixed area.

Originally Posted by Hemlock140

Managers have offices, the rest individual cubicles. I am lucky enough to have a 3rd floor window office with views of the water, downtown skyline and Olympic mountains. Makes it a lot more enjoyable to work every day.

My view is mostly of a federal prison:

[DanielWayne]

I used to work in a small cube in a large cube farm. I despised and loathed it with every fiber of my being. I mean if I was leaving this earth my last breath would have been castigating that stifling, soul-sucking environment. It made Dilbert look like a non-stop fiesta.

Now in my newer job, our department has people in offices, and our pc techs are in large comfortable cubes with computer parts lying around. This isn't bad at all.

[BATCAT]

I work in a building where almost all full-time employees, even entry-level ones, have their own office with a door. I can't state enough how happy I am about this.

I recall reading an article about a recent study on the "open office" plan and the upshot was that it found it just generally made people miserable and hurt productivity. (Which seems obvious)

[Wry_Martini]

Originally Posted by BATCAT

I work in a building where almost all full-time employees, even entry-level ones, have their own office with a door. I can't state enough how happy I am about this.

I recall reading an article about a recent study on the "open office" plan and the upshot was that it found it just generally made people miserable and hurt productivity. (Which seems obvious)

I've seen the difference in my team. 2-3 years ago, we were in large semi private cubes. Then we moved to an open office/bullpen sort of environment where we had our own defined space with very low walled partial cubes (kind of like a typical receptionist desk, where the 'wall is about waist height.) Then we moved back into our own private offices a year ago.

The changes in morale and productivity have been incredible to watch.

[Blinx]

I used to work in a huge cube farm where you'd have to take a hike to find a window to see if it was raining out.

Now I'm in a different building, still in a cube but in a very small area. And my cube has a HUGE window!! I'm loving it! Makes such a difference. It's such a nice setup, I'm sure it won't last and they'll move our department back to the cube farm.

[hunterseat]

This is the first time I've ever had my own office. I love it!!! I've had cubicles, open floor space... The gov't is getting away from offices, really. More open floor space with movable partitions and cubicles. (new construction)

[mattywo85]

I am personally one of those people who doesn't mind a cubicle, its my little space of privacy to get my work done. It might not be much but its something. Some office environments need more privacy and an open office environment wouldn't work.

[Reneeme]

We have cubicles with one high wall and the rest partial or low, so it's a cross between cubicles and an open office. I've had full cubes in the past and been much happier.

[psichick]

I've worked in cubes with all low walls (hated it, felt like I was being watched constantly, especially since my back was to the main walk way) and with high walls (I like this as it's more private and I get can things done). In the workplace with the low cubes, it was just the admins, so we were pretty far apart, which was nice. Noise wasn't a problem. But I've been in places where it sounds like a call center. I've also seen some new spaces where there's two people in a cubicle that opens up to another 2 people, so it's like 4 people within the same 4 walls. Yuck.

The newest thing arising is what they're calling "hotel space" or "hotelling". You don't "live" in your space you occupy it with other people, obviously not at the same time. So you may work in this space one week, that space another week. That would drive me crazy.

I also see people sharing offices too. I would rather have my personal cubicle than share. I don't like to share.

Lastly, one thing I love about my building? There are VERY LARGE skylights. So, although I can't see out windows, having natural daylight really helps.

[KittenSparkles]

I have my own office, but we're going to have a "collaborative" work space next year - at least there will be high walls dividing the spaces. Everyone is dreading it.