Over half a century ago, companies began converting private offices into open workspaces. The move seemed like a good way to save money, because it used office space more efficiently.
More recently, millennials have made shared workspaces the new world order, particularly in startup environments, where the dynamic is thought to uplift employee morale and increase collaborative creativity.
Yet, as laptops and smartphones have enabled employees to connect from anywhere via their "mobile office," the inevitable question has become, “Why even come to the office?”
The truth is, neither open floor plans nor telecommuting options are close to perfect environments. “The former has been shown to hinder workplace productivity,” reported the Huffington Post, “while the latter can stifle collaboration.”
Numerous studies show that open offices actually destroy productivity. They lead to more distractions, higher stress levels and more sick days. While employees who work in open offices may feel that they are part of a more laid-back, innovative work culture, they actually suffer more interruptions, get less work done and have less motivation.