About nine out of 10 offices in Australia are embracing open-plan office spaces. Nowadays, many business owners believe that this promotes communication and camaraderie within the workplace. As employees sit side by side, it’s easier to create bonds and voice out concerns without leaving the workspace. The big question is: Does this office setting always work?

1. The Truth behind Open- plan Office Spaces
About nine out of 10 offices in Australia are embracing open-plan office spaces. Nowadays, many business owners believe that this promotes communication and camaraderie within the workplace. As employees sit side by side, it’s easier to create bonds and voice out concerns without leaving the workspace. The big question is: Does this office setting always work?

2. A study conducted by Jungsoo Kim and Professor Richard de Dear of Sydney University revealed that large open- plan offices don’t improve staff communication, morale, or productivity. They noted that such beliefs have “no basis in the research literature.”
How It Began
Research Results
Graeme Ditch burn, an organisational psychologist, stated that open- plan office spaces became popular as they’re more affordable to run. Business owners try to fit what they can, so they can downsize and avoid buying an extra space. What’s good about this is that it removed the hierarchy system in the office. Everyone has to work in the same area regardless of the positioning of their workspace.
Another study by the University of Queensland found that this kind of setting led to higher levels of blood pressure and stress, causing staff turnovers. In addition, employees have 62% more sick days than those who have their private offices.

3. Noise and lack of privacy are some of the leading complaints about open-plan office spaces. Researchers suggest that giving employees a private area might change the way they work. There won’t be visual and sound distractions, which could improve their productivity. An office partition made of plasterboard, transparent or frosted glass, and acoustic cavity batts is a good example.
The Solution
Open-plan office spaces have pros and cons, and not everyone can simply adjust to them. Business owners should be able to determine if an open-plan work area is effective, or if they should adjust their office to incorporate a design that their employees approve of.
Sources:
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/mind-your- manners-the-pain-of-working-in-an-openplan-office/story-fnhocxo3- 1226953767787
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life/workers-complain-open-plan- offices-have-serious-flaws-20140315-34tnz.html
http://www.thecaretakers.com.au/