The usual workspace has transformed in the past couple of years as companies moved away from cubical space to a more inclusive open plan office which has been adopted by many businesses. As we approach towards Corporate Wellness Week taking place from 2–6 July, the open plan workspace is put in the spotlight.
The week focuses on how offices can be more productive by tackling distractions such as noise and general unhappiness that can hamper productivity.
David Fish, managing director of furniture and accessories manufacturer AngelShack is pro open workspace, “I love working in an open-plan office and feeling connected with the team, one of the key selling points of open-plan offices is that they foster collaboration, communication and sharing, encouraging teams to work together on projects to a far greater degree than they would if confined to their own cubicle or office.”
Even with those advantages, there are certain factors such as noise that can make open spaces challenging.
According to Lauren Clark a concept developer at Saint-Gobain Ecophon, “Noise is the second most common complaint in offices worldwide.”
She added that research has shown that sound is the main dissatisfaction of open plan offices from employes as it can reduce productivity by eight per cent. The source of the noise is different, it can come from the humming of the air conditioner, outside traffic, cell phone ring tones and most noticeably colleagues voices.
Julian Treasure, chairman of United Kingdom consultancy, The Sound Agency agrees, “There is plenty of research showing that the most destructive sound of all is other people’s conversations.”
Fish provided some solutions to reduce noise in the office:
- Get focused: A possible solution is to build a focus booth, a closed space that offers solitude from a busy workspace, perfect for confidential calls and one-on-one meetings
- Greenery – plants, plants, plants: Well-placed plants help diffuse and reduce sound, including creating a comfortable environment
- Design thinking: Smart design ideas that will absorb sound such as screens and facades that prevent noise transfer from one space to another.
Clark concluded that outdoor and natural environment type of offices are more comfortable and the trick that companies need to figure out is bringing that into indoor office spaces.
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