For all the talk a few years ago about the benefits of open offices, some people are now backtracking. Not everyone is thrilled with open offices because of the noise, the distractions, and the germs. Are we making a return to traditional cubicles?
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The Hybrid Office
With this debate, many companies are creating a hybrid type of office, which really is the workspace of the future. These types of offices have open spaces for employees who need to collaborate or who thrive on interaction, but it also has private workspaces and quieter offices for introverts or people who need to focus without the distraction of an open office.
By creating a space where employees feel comfortable and engaged companies are showing employees that they are valued. If an employee feels more engaged and productive in a private workspace, an organization should provide that, and if an employee feels more engaged in an open space, an organization should be able to provide that.
The Final Answer
There is no right answer to whether or not open office spaces are good or bad. The layout of your office is going to depend on the culture of your office and the type of work your company does.
Just because a company switches to an open office concept doesn't automatically make it a modern, future-proof organization. Likewise, an organization working in a closed office space isn't automatically traditional and stodgy.