Scratchy walls. Confining space with no windows. Being able to hear the constant pen tapping of the person next to you--it's not hard to see why cubicles get a bad rap.
In fact, the cubicle has become the symbol of the modern-day corporate monstrosity, where employees are just treated like cogs in the machine without personality or freedom. For many people, walking into an office and seeing a sea of cubicles is a sign that the company is stuck in the past.
A recent survey into workplace satisfaction when it comes to where they work found that workers in high-wall cubicles were the unhappiest by far. Of the 15 factors that contribute to workspace happiness, ranging from sound privacy to the amount of space and comfort, employees in cubicles reported the lowest levels of satisfaction in 13 areas. At the top of their list of complaints was the amount of space, the colors and textures, and the lack of sound privacy, meaning they could hear everything from their colleagues.
With that research in mind, it's no surprise that so many organizations are moving towards open office spaces. Many of the most forward-thinking companies are creating innovative spaces that provide different workspace options, including open offices and private areas for meetings or making deadlines. When done right, open offices tend to increase collaboration and productivity and encourage people to work together and be on the same page about what is happening in the company. Instead of being able to hide behind cubicle walls, employees can more easily interact with each other. Open office design isn't perfect and has led to newer problems in recent years, which is why a mixture of closed and open spaces has been incredibly effective for many companies.