Workplace

Open Office Designs Remain Popular In The U.S. Despite The Fact Many Employees Hate Them

Open Office Designs Remain Popular In The U.S. Despite The Fact Many Employees Hate Them

Employees voicing opposition to open-office floor plans dates back to at least 2014, but real estate planners continue to buck this opposition.

Open offices have only become more prevalent, with employers continuing to choose open-floor plans in numerous settings, according to a recent study by Clutch.

The survey noted even with employees citing a clear preference for more privacy, employers continue to favor open-office designs that mirror concepts launched by tech companies like Google.

WhiteBox Real Estate co-founder Grant Pruitt said the ideal office site often hinges on a series of factors that include everything from the industry a company works into the geographic area of the office to the type of employees in the space.

Office envy: companies focus on the experience-driven workplace

Office envy: companies focus on the experience-driven workplace

Companies are taking note of the experience-driven workplaces offered by space-sharing operators, which have driven 41 percent of occupancy gains in the U.S. office market since the start of 2018.

“In the past, it tended to be only very high profile, high-margin businesses that were able or wanted to provide their employees with incredible workplace experiences,” says Ben Munn, Managing Director, Flexible Space at JLL.

But in recent years, even the most conventional companies are thinking about how to instill some of the valued amenities seen in flexible workspaces into their traditional offices.

“As a result of this trend, our clients are now thinking differently about workplace design, says Ed Nolan, Managing Director, JLL Consulting.

Large companies have seen the tangible benefits of hospitality-style amenities in their workplaces.