Myths of The Open Office Concept

Employees working together in modern open office space, corporate group team employees using computers, talking, discuss project, colleagues in coworking, collaboration, teamwork

Since the 70s, the open office concept has gained lots of traction. In fact, in America, it’s estimated that 70% of all office spaces were open office concepts of some degree. Championed by businesses like Facebook and other Silicon Valley giants, the open office was supposed to be the creative, collaborative workspace of the future. The problem—open offices have done just the opposite. 

In this article, we’ll discuss some of the pitfalls of such a system, as well as discuss potential alternatives. 

Open Office Lack Of Creativity 

It’s rare when a concept does the exact opposite of what it was intended to do; unfortunately, that’s what we have with open offices. 

According to a 2018 Harvard Business Schol research paper, open offices reduced face to face interactions drastically, promoting emails and instant messages (IMs) more. Perhaps more importantly, workers were less productive, efficient, and quality fell to boot. 

Other studies have shown decreases in creativity, productivity, job satisfaction, and attention spans. In an era where everyone’s attention spans are decreasing, the last thing a business needs is even less attention from employees.

If that wasn’t enough, higher stress levels, blood pressure, and job turnover are also associated with open offices. Not quite the office revolution that people were hoping for. 

So…Now What?

So cubicles are drab, but open offices are bad in almost every way. What do we do? Well, as with most things in life, the best option may be somewhere in the middle. Some companies are utilizing open office design in small groups. Each group will have its own sequestered space but will be able to collaborate amongst themselves. This boosts productivity and collaboration without having the noise of the entire office distracting them. 

Getting the Most Out of Your Office With Indoff

If you want the most productive office space for you and your staff, you’ll need to get the best equipment for your staff. Here at Indoff, we ensure that our collection of office furniture and equipment is of quality design and functionality. Contact us today to find the best office furniture for your goals! 

 

Choosing the Right Office Desks

beautiful black walnut office desk with modern looking chairWhen you work in an office, your home base is your desk. This is where you make deals, create products, provide services, or whatever it is that you do is done. Office desks not only provide the foundation for your work area, but they also create a certain aesthetic for your office. If you have an open workspace for your employees, office desks set the tone for the atmosphere in your space, not to mention give your clients a sense of the type of company you are (if you bring clients into the office). So when you are deciding what type of desks you want for your company, you have a couple of things to consider. At Indoff Commercial Interiors, we have some tips to start off your search for the perfect office desks to suit your needs and aesthetic.

What Will Your Employees Be Doing On Those Office Desks?

It seems like an obvious question, but you’d be surprised how many employers don’t ask themselves this question.

Do they need a simple computer station?

Simple computer desks are ideal for industries whose work is exclusively on computers. This means that your employees will not be meeting clients, or your already have a room set aside for such meetings. These office desks provide space for necessary computing equipment and little else.

Do Your Employees Provide a Face to Face Service?

If your employees provide a face to face service, or meet with clients often, they probably need more room in order to be able to see their client and their computer at the same time. Larger desks can provide room to write, take notes, or keep important papers at hand when you need them.

Do your employees engage in creative design?

A worktable space would be more ideal than your standard computer office desk. These larger tables can accommodate computers, design space, and more. They are also typically higher in case your employee needs to be going back and forth between tables.

Other Things to Consider

How much room does their equipment need? Do they have personal printers you need to accommodate? These are all questions you need to ask yourself before committing to a certain style of office desk. In addition, you also want to consider options like standing desks to keep your employees happy and healthy. By promoting employee welfare, you will benefit from happier employees and higher productivity in turn.

Find the Office Desks You Need with Indoff Commercial Interiors

At Indoff Commercial Interiors, we specialize in providing quality office furniture for the El Paso area. We pride ourselves in keeping a variety of styles and materials so you can find exactly what you want to match your company’s goals and aesthetic. From office desks to office cubicles, your office will never look better with our help. Find out more about our services- contact us today!