Working in an open-plan office: advantages and disadvantages
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Maximilian Ningel
Contents
Most people perceive the term open-plan office as tending to be negative. Pictures from American Hollywood flicks immediately pop into your head, in which a number of employees are crammed together in a confined space making overloud phone calls, throwing files back and forth and the stress level of the actors is already noticeable through the screen.
The fact that these fictitious scenarios no longer correspond to reality in the vast majority of office environments should be just as clear as the fact that open-plan offices are still largely considered unsexy and do not meet the requirements of the modern working world.
But what is it about the prejudices against open-plan offices? We get to the bottom of the topic and not only answer the question of what an open-plan office is, but also what advantages and disadvantages open-plan offices have.
What is an open-plan office?
An open-plan office is an office space of 400m² or more in which at least 20 employees work at the same time. Plenty of space, you could think. In reality, however, it is often the case that many open-plan offices offer less space than would be possible.
Due to the installation of plants, telephone boxes and separate office cubicles, open-plan offices are often surprisingly tight. Of course, this is also due to the number of employees occupying the office space at the same time. In addition, it must also be considered that people need space to move around. Not to mention escape routes.
So how can you categorize the open-plan office? By thinking about what it entails working for you. Everyone's needs are known to be quite different. However, a few general statements about open-plan offices can still be made. For better orientation, the next point follows: The advantages and disadvantages of open-plan offices.
Open-plan office: pros and cons
Now that we have clarified the terminology, the question is what are the advantages and disadvantages of working in open-plan offices anyway. It is best to start with yourself first and check what requirements you should have in terms of the working atmosphere when starting a new job.
How big should the company you plan to work for be? Which hybrid working models are offered there and what options are there for you to be able to determine for yourself whether you are able to work from home or if attendance in the office is required?
Making these considerations in advance can be useful to simplify decision making when it comes to open-plan offices. If you need any further decision-making tools - gladly!
Benefits of an open-plan office
Fostering collaboration
- Facilitates collaboration and exchange of ideas
- Leads to innovative solutions and stronger teamwork
- Increasing productivity and creativity
- Necessary for agile project development
Flexible work organization
- Supports dynamic use of space with shared desks and common areas
- Hybrid teams select jobs according to their needs
- Increasing the collaborative experience and productivity through independence and variety
Consistent corporate culture
- Promotes equality and openness by removing physical barriers
- Facilitates interactions regardless of position
- Support and exchange of knowledge with each other
- Increasing fun and engagement at work
cost savings
- Reducing office costs (rent, electricity, furniture, etc.)
- Efficient use of fewer square meters for more employees
Disadvantages of an open-plan office
Noise pollution and distractions
- No walls that attenuate sound
- Phone calls and conversations are distracting
- Lower productivity
- Increased team stress
Restricted privacy
- Hardly any privacy due to open design
- Difficult concentration or discretion
- Discomfort during visible work, resulting in negative effects on performance
health risks
- Germs spread more easily
- Higher absenteeism rate due to illness and stress
- Hygiene measures are becoming particularly important
individual needs
- Encourages collaboration but isn't for everyone
- Introverted or neurodivergent employees often need rest
- The need for a balance between different types of rooms
Why desk sharing makes sense in an open-plan office
Office management has become an increasingly important topic across industries in recent years. Regardless of whether you work in an open-plan office or in smaller offices: The right office management system is essential to ensure a smooth workflow.
But why are many companies based in open-plan offices increasingly using desk sharing or hot desking? Here are five reasons why desk sharing makes working in open-plan offices easier:
- Reduced rental and infrastructure costs: Less office space and equipment required.
- Support for flexible working models: Ideal for mobile and employees working from home.
- Maximum utilization of workstations: Minimize unused desks
- More interaction between teams: Strengthening cross-departmental cooperation.
- Diverse jobs: Adapting to various work needs.
If you combine these arguments as a tool for working in an open-plan office, it's easy to see why desk sharing is an important part of modern working environments.
Flexopus: The advantage in open-plan offices
With Flexopus - the desk sharing app - give yourself a clear advantage in an open-plan office. Flexopus offers numerous useful features that can be used both for hybrid work and can be used as a tool in office management.
Would you like a small excerpt? Here are three useful Flexopus features that make working in an open-plan office a breeze for everyone, from boss to junior!
Meeting room booking
Depending on the equipment and layout of your open-plan office, it can become an obstacle to book meeting rooms, as there is often a lack of clarity in open-plan offices. With Flexopus meeting room booking, this problem is a thing of the past. Room booking made easy!
Parking booking
All colleagues are already on their way to the office and you are still stuck in traffic? No problem! With parking space booking, you already booked your personal parking space for your car, motorbike or bicycle in advance. Easy!
Live Plan
Where exactly can I find my contact person for the upcoming project? And how long was the telephone box booked again, which I need later?
Just take a look at the Flexopus live schedule and you'll know within a minute. It's convenient, isn't it?
These and many other features, such as the check-In feature, SSO integration, and the Microsoft Teams app, which guarantee a clear and easy-to-use tool for your shared desk concept in an open-plan office.
Synopsis
Working in an open-plan office can be a real balancing act. On the one hand, it promotes collaboration, facilitates the exchange of ideas and can increase productivity and creativity. You have flexible work design options and a consistent corporate culture that promotes interaction with each other and fun at work. In addition, you save significant costs on rent and equipment.
On the other hand, constant noise and distractions in open-plan offices can also become a problem, which can reduce productivity and increase stress. Privacy is often scarce, which can be particularly stressful for introverted or neurodivergent employees.
Desk sharing reduces costs, supports flexible and hybrid work models, ensures maximum utilization of workstations and is supported with tools such as Flexopus much easier and more efficient.
