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> I have the same issue with Slack, that I do with open-plan offices (in the US. They actually work well, in Japan, but their culture also makes it work). Can

> I have the same issue with Slack, that I do with open-plan offices (in the US. They actually work well, in Japan, but their culture also makes it work). Can you expand on open-plan offices in Japan ? edit: I just read that article https://manabink.com/en/2020/12/26/why-do-japanese-like-open-plan-offices/ https://manabink.com/en/2020/12/26/why-do-japanese-like-open...

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago
I worked for an "old-fashioned" engineering corporation. Their Shinagawa headquarters was in a huge building, with many floors. It was considered one of the better work environments. Each floor was basically a very large room, on either side of the central elevator column, which would bisect the building. The room usually extended from the elevators, to the windows, and there was a lot of light. You didn't have offices against the glass, like you do, in the US. The ceilings were high, and used acoustic tiles, with fluorescent lighting panels. There would be dozens of desks, in each room, arranged in parallel rows, with a "row," consisting of fairly small, uniform, sitting desks, back to back (so each engineer was facing towards another one, on the other side). These rows would extend from the windows, towards the central column. There would be an aisle, at each end, perpendicular to the rows. Each row would have a fairly wide aisle, separating it from the next row. At the window end of each row, would be a slightly larger desk, set against the last two desks of the row, so the occupant faced the row. That would be the manager's desk. The higher-ups, would have desks behind the managers. They would be closest to the windows. Separators were generally file cabinets. Partitions were used for informal meeting areas. The central column would have enclosed meeting rooms, and they had two floors, completely dedicated to meeting rooms (the Japanese love meetings). What's wild, is how quiet these offices are. Hundreds of people, packed together, and very little noise. I think the interior design has a lot of acoustic absorbency, as well. [UPDATED] That article is pretty much spot-on. > my shoes were too noisy The Japanese generally have "office shoes," which can be a pair of slipper-like shoes, usually slip-on. They exchange their regular shoes, for these. My company's offices were carpeted, so you didn't get clacking of shoes.
- johnchristopher 4y ago
  Thanks !

ChrisMarshallNY 4y ago

I worked for an "old-fashioned" engineering corporation. Their Shinagawa headquarters was in a huge building, with many floors. It was considered one of the better work environments. Each floor was basically a very large room, on either side of the central elevator column, which would bisect the building. The room usually extended from the elevators, to the windows, and there was a lot of light. You didn't have offices against the glass, like you do, in the US. The ceilings were high, and used acoustic tiles, with fluorescent lighting panels. There would be dozens of desks, in each room, arranged in parallel rows, with a "row," consisting of fairly small, uniform, sitting desks, back to back (so each engineer was facing towards another one, on the other side). These rows would extend from the windows, towards the central column. There would be an aisle, at each end, perpendicular to the rows. Each row would have a fairly wide aisle, separating it from the next row. At the window end of each row, would be a slightly larger desk, set against the last two desks of the row, so the occupant faced the row. That would be the manager's desk. The higher-ups, would have desks behind the managers. They would be closest to the windows. Separators were generally file cabinets. Partitions were used for informal meeting areas. The central column would have enclosed meeting rooms, and they had two floors, completely dedicated to meeting rooms (the Japanese love meetings). What's wild, is how quiet these offices are. Hundreds of people, packed together, and very little noise. I think the interior design has a lot of acoustic absorbency, as well. [UPDATED] That article is pretty much spot-on. > my shoes were too noisy The Japanese generally have "office shoes," which can be a pair of slipper-like shoes, usually slip-on. They exchange their regular shoes, for these. My company's offices were carpeted, so you didn't get clacking of shoes.

johnchristopher 4y ago
Thanks !