Why open plan offices suck

[Platypus]

One bank in London was a bit of hassle because there were so many of us crowded in that you had very little personal space. I could not stretch my arms out without hitting the people either side of me.

Lloyds?

[NickFitz]

I worked in a place in Bristol where they played GWR 96.3FM in the office; and in the corridors; and in the lifts; and even in the bogs

Then again, it was the studios. At least they put Planet Rock on in our office on Fridays

[SueEllen]

I worked in a place in Bristol where they played GWR 96.3FM in the office; and in the corridors; and in the lifts; and even in the bogs

GWR

Oh you mean Heart Bristol.

[Bacchus]

They suck because there is no where to hide from stupid people, or Dev's are the are more commonly known!

I have the utmost admiration for the way you publish such a snappy and coherent jibe on a public forum to demonstrate your vast intellectual superiority...

[Bacchus]

In response to the OP, couldn't agree more. open plan offices make for a terrible working environment

I am lucky in that I seem to be able to "zone out" most of the time, and I try and avoid any work that's too challenging but I do occasionally have to try and do something tricky to a deadline, and the open office environment with people jabbering on can rapidly send the old blood pressure skyward!

[d000hg]

What kind of programmer can't get into "the zone" and get some work done despite little distractions?

[Mulder]

Current client has an open plan office, with hot desking (with more than the usual 1.2 people to a desk, not sure of the exact ratio), the hot desks are not bookable, some are unofficially reserved but you don't know til you ask.

So it is a fight in the morning to just get a desk.

Then you have the usual phone calls, meetings at desks, etc

So not a fan of open plan offices either

[CheeseSlice]

I don't care much for open plan offices unless they're mainly empty. However I've often found they're good when you're the one bothering others for information. I don't ask silly questions though. I check every single document available to me until I have to ask people.

I've always had my own desk so far, or managed to get a good hot desk. I even managed to nab a fixed desk at my last contract when other contractors had to continually fight over crappy hot desks that were smaller than usual, or at the end of a row with your back to a busy corridor. One poor guy would always end up with a desk with his back to the swing doors from reception, so not only did he hear everyone stomp through the doors and get a draught of air, everyone got to nose at what he was doing when passing through

[doodab]

What kind of programmer can't get into "the zone" and get some work done despite little distractions?

Little distractions are one thing. A constant barrage of high level noise is quite different and many open plan offices are badly laid out so that you have a very noisy department next to one that needs to concentrate.

It's preety much a science fact that noise means distraction means lower performance on intellectually demanding tasks.

[suityou01]

Little distractions are one thing. A constant barrage of high level noise is quite different and many open plan offices are badly laid out so that you have a very noisy department next to one that needs to concentrate.

It's preety much a science fact that noise means distraction means lower performance on intellectually demanding tasks.

Good post. And quite right. I'm surprised you fed the crap troll though.