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> Everybody wanted to move in. It was a gigantic shift in the way we worked, because we went from being in cubes to, all of a sudden, literally every person had
by dblohm7 8y ago
> Everybody wanted to move in. It was a gigantic shift in the way we worked, because we went from being in cubes to, all of a sudden, literally every person had an office.
And now they've regressed.
- trhway 8y agoBeside cost saving, I wonder whether it is generational with Millenials having been closely watched over by the hovering parents, etc. all their live. To the comment below: Not all Millenials may be explicitly asking for it, yet they definitely have lesser allergy/resistance to it which makes the cost saving measure of the "cool offices" more feasible. Other people have also at different times/comments (for example https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18009641 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18009641) noticed that the open office is frequently used as an "ageism" filter.
- codemac 8y agoAre the millenials actually asking for open offices? I think you're projecting a lot, and making pretty unfounded statements. I don't know a single person IRL who prefers them that works as a software engineer. Finally - I've never been hired somewhere that actually let me decide on my office format. I've been places that asked, but none have ever actually given me what I asked for.
- pseudalopex 8y agoI've heard very few entry-level developers complain about them and many say they like that someone's always around to answer questions. I don't think that's because of helicopter parents, though.
- giobox 8y agoI find no shortage of young engineers who’ve never experienced offices expressing a strong preference for open plan working arrangements. Sure it’s not all of them, but it’s a significant amount. Everywhere I’ve worked, if/when the topic of office layout redesign or move has arisen, the young folks desires for “bull pens” or big shared desks or similar has always won out. I think popular culture has almost made the open plan office aspirational for some too, which is kind of hilarious.
- briandear 8y agoI don’t think “cost savings” factored into the new HQ. even within the walls out of view, construction tolerances were insane for no particular reason other than it was “right.”
- trhway 8y agofor the same number of employees and the same cost - building bigger office with bare-minimum satisfactory tolerances vs. smaller office with unnecessary high tolerances. Saving at one place to spend at another.
- kalleboo 8y agoOr is it boomer managers who are used to closely watching over their kids and want to transfer that into the workplace?
- joezydeco 8y agoThe boomer managers have offices with walls and doors. They're not out sitting with the kids.
- objclxt 8y ago> And now they've regressed. That's not entirely true, there are teams in the new campus that have offices (usually shared, which is much the same as Infinite Loop) - it's a mix of working spaces and styles. What is true is that engineering at Apple is very much a meritocracy, and some teams are treated much better than others. When I was there I saw engineering teams - particularly those working on things perceived as less important by the company - were put into open plan spaces and cube farms. Meanwhile, others were treated very well, with large offices and private spaces.