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I have mixed feelings about open concept floor plans. I think they can work - especially if the office is organized such that the work area is separate from are

by jmking 10y ago

I have mixed feelings about open concept floor plans. I think they can work - especially if the office is organized such that the work area is separate from areas that could be loud. People who visit our offices are often surprised at how quiet the engineering floor is. There might be the odd conversation, but the tone is kept low, and everyone is issued a pair of noise cancelling headphones. People generally respect the headphone rule and will ping you on Slack instead of shoulder tapping. Basically open concept floor plans can work as long as everyone respects the etiquette that makes it work.

Camillo 10y ago
I don't want to have to wear noise cancelling headphones all day long. If you give them out to everyone, it becomes an excuse to be loud. "Just put on your headphones!" No, you go fucking chitchat somewhere else.
- jmking 10y ago
  That's what I mean about etiquette. The headphones aren't an excuse to be loud. Good quality headphones also mean that your neighbour's shitty music isn't leaking noise into the workspace.
  - semi-extrinsic 10y ago
    > Good quality headphones also mean that your neighbour's shitty music isn't leaking noise into the workspace. You don't need anything expensive for that, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD-202 ($25) at work that do it just fine. In fact, they also block most noise from the outside, to the point that I can't hear the person 6ft away who's calling my name.
crdoconnor 10y ago
>People generally respect the headphone rule and will ping you on Slack instead of shoulder tapping. One feature on slack that would help immensely would be an "urgent" signal vs a "if you see this in 2 hours time and respond i'm not that bothered". I'd like to be able to switch off notifications for one and leave them on for the other.
- timrod 10y ago
  > One feature on slack that would help immensely would be an "urgent" signal vs a "if you see this in 2 hours time and respond i'm not that bothered. I just use email for that. Pinging someone on slack feels a lot like electronic shoulder tapping to me, so I try to avoid it if I can.

by jmking 10y ago

Camillo 10y ago

I don't want to have to wear noise cancelling headphones all day long. If you give them out to everyone, it becomes an excuse to be loud. "Just put on your headphones!" No, you go fucking chitchat somewhere else.

jmking 10y ago
That's what I mean about etiquette. The headphones aren't an excuse to be loud. Good quality headphones also mean that your neighbour's shitty music isn't leaking noise into the workspace.
- semi-extrinsic 10y ago
  > Good quality headphones also mean that your neighbour's shitty music isn't leaking noise into the workspace. You don't need anything expensive for that, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD-202 ($25) at work that do it just fine. In fact, they also block most noise from the outside, to the point that I can't hear the person 6ft away who's calling my name.

crdoconnor 10y ago

>People generally respect the headphone rule and will ping you on Slack instead of shoulder tapping. One feature on slack that would help immensely would be an "urgent" signal vs a "if you see this in 2 hours time and respond i'm not that bothered". I'd like to be able to switch off notifications for one and leave them on for the other.

timrod 10y ago
> One feature on slack that would help immensely would be an "urgent" signal vs a "if you see this in 2 hours time and respond i'm not that bothered. I just use email for that. Pinging someone on slack feels a lot like electronic shoulder tapping to me, so I try to avoid it if I can.