3 ms·

I like flexibility. I don't want to be forced into a open floor plan office. But I also don't want to be full time remote, or forced into a singular private of

I like flexibility. I don't want to be forced into a open floor plan office. But I also don't want to be full time remote, or forced into a singular private office. I want to be able to go into an office when I feel like. Work out of a small office/conference room when it gets noisy. Sit in the open when it makes sense. Work from home when I need to be heads down. I wish management would stop looking for the "productivity magic bullet" and just start offering options based on their employees. There is no one-size fits all solution here.

wastedhours 7y ago
We do that, and to be fair, it's really positive. We have an open plan area, booths if you want quiet work, meeting rooms for, well, meetings - and then you can WFH whenever you want to. It's a great approach, and I've enjoyed it for a good 3 years or so. It has the effect of damaging collaboration though - which for some roles is perfect (where I am, some roles you can be ignored for a good few days), but for ones like mine, it actually makes it hard. It also scratches out pretty much all sense of camaraderie, so it depends whether you want to feel connected with colleagues or not. This kind of agile working is a double edged sword, the benefits give rise to different challenges, challenges I never thought I'd see as such previously. That being said, working from home from 7:30-9, then heading to a coffee shop for an hour, then coming into the office for a bit, and then going home is freedom it'd be hard to give up.
- Phillips126 7y ago
  Sounds like a dream. I went from private office to WFH (2 years), and now back on-site in a cube farm. My focus, productivity and happiness went from high to very high, then all time low. The cubes I sit in are a mixed environment with developers, reception, IT, etc. so the noise is almost unbearable. I tend to do my best work in complete silence (sometimes low music). Considering asking my boss for a private office and if not then seeking alternative employment.

wastedhours 7y ago

We do that, and to be fair, it's really positive. We have an open plan area, booths if you want quiet work, meeting rooms for, well, meetings - and then you can WFH whenever you want to. It's a great approach, and I've enjoyed it for a good 3 years or so. It has the effect of damaging collaboration though - which for some roles is perfect (where I am, some roles you can be ignored for a good few days), but for ones like mine, it actually makes it hard. It also scratches out pretty much all sense of camaraderie, so it depends whether you want to feel connected with colleagues or not. This kind of agile working is a double edged sword, the benefits give rise to different challenges, challenges I never thought I'd see as such previously. That being said, working from home from 7:30-9, then heading to a coffee shop for an hour, then coming into the office for a bit, and then going home is freedom it'd be hard to give up.

Phillips126 7y ago
Sounds like a dream. I went from private office to WFH (2 years), and now back on-site in a cube farm. My focus, productivity and happiness went from high to very high, then all time low. The cubes I sit in are a mixed environment with developers, reception, IT, etc. so the noise is almost unbearable. I tend to do my best work in complete silence (sometimes low music). Considering asking my boss for a private office and if not then seeking alternative employment.