Are open plan offices better?
Employees spend at least eight hours a day in their place of work, so it's important that the office space is one of comfort, content and cooperation. Over the last decade, many companies have had to become agile in the face of the changing economy. In the last year this had become even more important as the pandemic forced companies to think about a hybrid working model. Offices have come to reflect this economic change and have morphed into easily adaptable spaces.
Instead of the traditionally segregating closed-door offices, companies have steered towards open-plan workplaces. There are many benefits of tearing down office walls, as well as a few considerations to take into account before you call in the movers.
Office moves
Pros and cons of the open space office
We breakdown some of the pros and cons of the open space workplace:
Pros:
Agile - the lack of set walls and doors allows the space to have the potential to grow as your business grows. Desks, tables and chairs can easily be moved around to accommodate the changing landscape of your employee structure;
Communication - Colleagues can easily communicate with each other without the barrier of walls and doors. There is less need for dedicated meeting rooms if staff members can simply pull up a chair and discuss matters in a shared space;
Teamwork - When colleagues are all in the one space they are less segregated, able to form better relationships and feel apart of the same team.
Cons:
Distractions - without a dedicated 'do not disturb' sign tacked to the office door, it might be difficult for employees to shut themselves off in order to meet an urgent deadline;
Privacy - An open plan office means everybody can hear everything, which means serious or confidential meetings may need to be taken offsite;
Noise - It stands to reason that while the space is now open and breezy, noise will also be travelling easier than before. The overall noisiness of the office may increase.
It's important to consider all of the above reasoning before deciding to play around with the floor plan of your office. If you do decide to change the layout of your office, ensure you contact a professional removal company to ensure the change is executed smoothly.
This article was written in conjunction with Office removalist Hire A Mover.
