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That sounds like heaven. The constant distraction environment of cubicles severely hampers my productivity. I work from home as often as possible, but even the

That sounds like heaven. The constant distraction environment of cubicles severely hampers my productivity. I work from home as often as possible, but even then I'm no longer accustomed to being able to focus on one thing for so long that I feel like I'm becoming more ADD. People complain about the social impacts of social media etc... I wonder if anyone has tried to identify/quantify the impact of cubicles/shared workspaces.

frereubu 9y ago
There's a good long-ish read about why open-plan offices are terrible here: https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-open-office-trap https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-open-office-...
- uhhhhhhh 9y ago
  I did read that several years ago, but forgot that linked to some actual studies done on the subject, I'll go back and dig deeper. Thanks!
maxxxxx 9y ago
I definitely feel that too. Since I have been working in a cubicle I feel constantly rushed. My ability to focus has gone down a lot.
- uhhhhhhh 9y ago
  I've been working on ways to combat this. Taking on longer tasks/projects at home, and requiring myself to pace myself/go slowly and focus on details. Also got back into reading more which can take my attention for hours without too much effort. I'm getting to the point where I want to shut all personal notifications, social media access etc.. off for 12 hours a day (mid-late evening to morning) to remove distractions and interruptions, and try to do things that require focus and concentration during those periods (also sleeping, and staying in bed/not grabbing my phone if I can't sleep)
at-fates-hands 9y ago
I've worked in several "open" office layouts for several large corporations and they're horrible. At one, it was so loud and distracting, I barely could get anything done due to all the interruptions. When one person would get sick, it was a chain reaction. Within days, half our team would be out sick. It was a miserable place to work. Both places abandoned the open office concept and went back to cubicles with additional "collaboration" spaces instead. Needless to say, it was much better. The funny thing is the company I currently work for went back to this "open office" concept and call it "hoteling" now. They have desks with monitors and a dock everywhere and you just plug in your laptop and go. There are no more assigned seats. It's the same thing with predictable results though. People are constantly sick, they complain about the interruptions (I had a guy doing his kettle bell workout at his desk across from me) and the struggle to maintain concentration. The problem is, they've gone all in on the concept. The company dropped millions of dollars in renovating the building so I don't see a change any time soon. I just work from home now as often as possible.
- uhhhhhhh 9y ago
  I wonder if I'm using the wrong terms. I call open offices anything from "just tables" without any real dividers to cubicles like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Gulf_Worldwide_Sales_%26_Marketing_Team.jpg/300px-Gulf_Worldwide_Sales_%26_Marketing_Team.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Gu... I've seen some cubicles that are higher and appear to provide more privacy, but I've never actually worked in one/for a company that uses them. The company I work for now has the short cubicles. Noise isn't contained, and a large number of people work with remote teams/employees and are constantly on calls. Its a complete PITA. I WFH as often as I can get away with, but my previous habits/skills of focus and concentration have significantly deteriorated in all aspects of my life. I'm actively working on ways to combat this, but I fear without a more comprehensive lifestyle change my success will be limited. (thankfully the one thing I can still do is disappear into a book for hours)
  - at-fates-hands 9y ago
    >> I wonder if I'm using the wrong terms. Nah, you're using the correct terms. One company I worked at had a bunch of octagon tables, pushed together and your monitors would face each other. Another one, I had cubicles like the ones you referenced and we were told it was an open office concept as well. Another company I worked at had super high (like 8' high) cubicle walls for their customer service people and other people (sales team, account managers) who were on the phone constantly, which would be awesome for privacy and noise. Ironically, all the developers sat at long picnic like tables, shoulder to shoulder working, it was the worst. I only last a month before leaving since it felt so much like a sweatshop.
stillhere 9y ago
My office mate talks to himself incessantly from work start to work finish. He speaks every thought anyone could possibly have throughout the day, unfiltered, from the mundane "Let me try the `grep` command, woops that didn't work... ok ah I forgot to put the pipe character" to things like: "Now time for the bathroom", "I really should not have eaten that", "Now time for a smoke". To make matters worse, every text message he makes a new annoying sound ranging from a loud siren (BRRRRRRRRRRRN!), at full volume, to the beginning of a Disturbed rock music song (Oooo wa ah ah ah!). I once got him moved to my manager's office temporarily so I could focus. Then my manager got tired of him and demanded that I take him back.

frereubu 9y ago

There's a good long-ish read about why open-plan offices are terrible here: https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-open-office-trap https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-open-office-...

uhhhhhhh 9y ago
I did read that several years ago, but forgot that linked to some actual studies done on the subject, I'll go back and dig deeper. Thanks!

maxxxxx 9y ago

I definitely feel that too. Since I have been working in a cubicle I feel constantly rushed. My ability to focus has gone down a lot.

uhhhhhhh 9y ago
I've been working on ways to combat this. Taking on longer tasks/projects at home, and requiring myself to pace myself/go slowly and focus on details. Also got back into reading more which can take my attention for hours without too much effort. I'm getting to the point where I want to shut all personal notifications, social media access etc.. off for 12 hours a day (mid-late evening to morning) to remove distractions and interruptions, and try to do things that require focus and concentration during those periods (also sleeping, and staying in bed/not grabbing my phone if I can't sleep)

at-fates-hands 9y ago

I've worked in several "open" office layouts for several large corporations and they're horrible. At one, it was so loud and distracting, I barely could get anything done due to all the interruptions. When one person would get sick, it was a chain reaction. Within days, half our team would be out sick. It was a miserable place to work. Both places abandoned the open office concept and went back to cubicles with additional "collaboration" spaces instead. Needless to say, it was much better. The funny thing is the company I currently work for went back to this "open office" concept and call it "hoteling" now. They have desks with monitors and a dock everywhere and you just plug in your laptop and go. There are no more assigned seats. It's the same thing with predictable results though. People are constantly sick, they complain about the interruptions (I had a guy doing his kettle bell workout at his desk across from me) and the struggle to maintain concentration. The problem is, they've gone all in on the concept. The company dropped millions of dollars in renovating the building so I don't see a change any time soon. I just work from home now as often as possible.

uhhhhhhh 9y ago
I wonder if I'm using the wrong terms. I call open offices anything from "just tables" without any real dividers to cubicles like this: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Gulf_Worldwide_Sales_%26_Marketing_Team.jpg/300px-Gulf_Worldwide_Sales_%26_Marketing_Team.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Gu... I've seen some cubicles that are higher and appear to provide more privacy, but I've never actually worked in one/for a company that uses them. The company I work for now has the short cubicles. Noise isn't contained, and a large number of people work with remote teams/employees and are constantly on calls. Its a complete PITA. I WFH as often as I can get away with, but my previous habits/skills of focus and concentration have significantly deteriorated in all aspects of my life. I'm actively working on ways to combat this, but I fear without a more comprehensive lifestyle change my success will be limited. (thankfully the one thing I can still do is disappear into a book for hours)
- at-fates-hands 9y ago
  >> I wonder if I'm using the wrong terms. Nah, you're using the correct terms. One company I worked at had a bunch of octagon tables, pushed together and your monitors would face each other. Another one, I had cubicles like the ones you referenced and we were told it was an open office concept as well. Another company I worked at had super high (like 8' high) cubicle walls for their customer service people and other people (sales team, account managers) who were on the phone constantly, which would be awesome for privacy and noise. Ironically, all the developers sat at long picnic like tables, shoulder to shoulder working, it was the worst. I only last a month before leaving since it felt so much like a sweatshop.

stillhere 9y ago

My office mate talks to himself incessantly from work start to work finish. He speaks every thought anyone could possibly have throughout the day, unfiltered, from the mundane "Let me try the `grep` command, woops that didn't work... ok ah I forgot to put the pipe character" to things like: "Now time for the bathroom", "I really should not have eaten that", "Now time for a smoke". To make matters worse, every text message he makes a new annoying sound ranging from a loud siren (BRRRRRRRRRRRN!), at full volume, to the beginning of a Disturbed rock music song (Oooo wa ah ah ah!). I once got him moved to my manager's office temporarily so I could focus. Then my manager got tired of him and demanded that I take him back.