The Positive Effects and Challenges of Open-plan Offices

Open-plan offices have been a big trend in recent years. However, several studies show the advantages, but also the disadvantages of this type of environment. Are they suitable for all employees? How can a designer adapt this type of space so that it is as suitable as possible for workers?

By allowing everyone to be in a common space, open areas offer a great advantage for teamwork and knowledge transfer. In fact, new employees and experienced staff are in close proximity to each other. It is easy for them to talk to each other and share their knowledge. These spaces therefore reduce the loss of time associated with going from one office to another. Moreover, since everyone does not have a partitioned office, each workstation requires less square footage. Thus, it is possible to have many more employees in the same area. Also, since the offices are all open, each employee has access to natural light, which is a great advantage since, in the past, this was a privilege mainly reserved for managers and bosses.

What are the drawbacks of open-plan offices?

Several research studies and employee testimonials have shown that acoustics seem to be a major problem in this type of workspace design. Many employees find it difficult to concentrate when they are in the same space, as they are disturbed by the footsteps of other employees, discussions, teamwork, telephone calls, etc. Increasingly, the concept of hotelling is also being used in open-plan offices. In this concept, employees do not have their own desk or workstation. This type of arrangement allows employees to move around, sitting next to the right people depending on the project or task at hand. However, this arrangement seems to cause a great deal of stress for some employees, as they are afraid that they will not be able to move to the desk they want, and this can affect their sense of belonging to the company. Not being able to personalize their workspace seems to bother many. Also, the light from the windows, which varies according to their location and number, can cause glare and thus reduce the work performance of other employees. Not being in a closed office limits the ability to close or open a curtain to minimize glare. On the other hand, employees may experience stress when they see the work progress of other employees while they themselves are disturbed by various sources of distraction, or when they are distracted by everything that is happening on their neighbour's desk. In short, open areas cause a lot of distraction and discomfort for employees.

Given these circumstances, the role of a designer is crucial in creating spaces that maximize space, and that also take into consideration the well-being of employees. In this type of environment, it may be possible to create several types of workstations and to create different rooms (meeting rooms, focus rooms, etc.) to meet everyone's needs. There are also solutions to help with acoustics, such as soundproof booths for work requiring more concentration or for making calls or holding video conferences. It is even possible to divide open areas by including closed rooms to reduce the possibility of sound propagation. There are also a number of coverings such as carpets, acoustic panels, acoustic dividers or even sound masking systems that can help in reducing noise.

When starting a design project, it is important to understand the nature of the work that will be done in that environment and to understand the needs of the employees in order to enhance their comfort and performance at work.