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Office Space, An Open Plan Office Space |
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In any environment privacy has always been an issue. With an open plan office space, there is virtually no privacy. A large room is set up with desks to accommodate employees. While this may save money for the employer, it may not be the best plan for a business. What are some of the issues faced with an open plan office space?
One issue is lack of personal space. While each employee may have a desk in the office space, that desk is available for anyone to access it. Personal property theft can be a major problem in an open plan office space. Not to mention theft of company secrets. Not every employee can have access to all information, but in an open office space, the odds of someone hearing something they are not privileged to increases considerably. An employee seeing something they are not authorized to see also increases. Any employee can stand behind another employee and see what he or she is working on. Whether they are on the computer or on their desk the information is out in the open for anyone to view. While an open plan office space may cut down on an employee slacking instead of working, it increases proprietary information leaking as well.
Some businesses have increased the amount of visual privacy in open plan office space by adding cubicles. While this helps prevent other employees from seeing proprietary information, it does not help prevent hearing proprietary information. Not all employees can work in a noisy environment. Adding cubicles to an open plan office space does not aid in dimming the noise. Some businesses may not have an issue with noise. Customer call centers and telemarketing centers are good examples of an open plan office space that works. Not every business can use an open plan office space.
If an open plan office space will work for the company, consider just how much privacy the employees should have. Some cubicles have walls on three sides, while others have as little as one placed between the two employees facing each other. Whether they have desks or cubicles, make employees aware that proprietary information may be heard or viewed by them and let them know what you expect of them upon hearing or seeing this information.
In an office space that requires vital information be kept confidential, an open plan office space may not be the best office space for that company. If there is a need for little to no noise in the office space, an open plan office space may not be the best option either. Considering all the pros and cons of having an open office space will help to determine if an open plan office space is the right kind of office space for the business.
In conclusion, an open plan office space is one option, but it is an option that limits personal privacy, company privacy, and increases noise that an employee must filter to be able to work. |
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