Visual privacy is great, but noise and the other senses are an issue too. Employees with allergies, employees who use heavy scents (especially in combination w

Visual privacy is great, but noise and the other senses are an issue too. Employees with allergies, employees who use heavy scents (especially in combination with employees with allergies) and various food smells can all be problems even in cubicles. Employees who sing, hum, and make other (often unconscious) sounds are likewise problematic in full distraction office layouts. The claim that there is a cost savings is irrelevant, as "costs less" is never a justification for anything in business. What matters is productivity per dollar spent, so if you can hire four developers with private offices to do the work of five in an open plan, it's a wash. People who run businesses based on cost savings and not productivity per dollar aren't the kind of people you want to work for if you can help it.