What is open space, what is the danger of an “open office” and how to survive in one territory

Rostelecom, Kaspersky Lab, Mail.Ru Group, Yandex, Google - most large companies choose an open office, or open space.

At GorodRabot.ru we also work in a single space.

Organizing open workspaces is cheaper, which is why companies love open space. Plus, this type of office creates a feeling of unity, and the team communicates more effectively.

There are many options for open space - with partitions between tables, division into work groups and free arrangement of tables.

There is even a shared desk option (clean desk) - when employees do not have their own workplace and sit at any free table.

How open space affects health

In open-type offices, employees get sick more often - that's a fact.

The more people in the room, the greater the concentration of viruses and bacteria. Swiss scientists have found that in companies with open space, employees are 20% more likely to take sick leave . And this does not count those who suffer the disease “on their feet.”

The noise level in the open space reaches 70 dB - this is the volume of a vacuum cleaner working nearby. Background noise can become commonplace, but every office has a loud-voiced employee and cell phones ring constantly. Our hearing picks up other people's voices and harsh sounds, and this makes it difficult to concentrate.

Extraneous noise leads to constant stress, insomnia and concentration problems. Cardiologists warn that the risk of hypertension and stroke increases.

Australian researchers have compiled a ranking of stress factors in an open office:

Noise
Loss of personal space
Uncomfortable conditions - too high or low temperature, stuffy or drafty

What to do? It's simple - keep stressors to a minimum.

What is open space?

Open space is a special layout of an office space. All employees are housed in one large room. Workstations are separated from each other by a thin partition. The tables are arranged in rows. You can imagine what open space looks like by remembering American films showing offices. Most often they feature open space.

How to record the fact that an employee is absent from the workplace ?

Advantages

What is the secret of the wide spread of open space? Their undoubted advantages include:

Saving space . A small space can accommodate many employees. There is no need to rent a large area. The economic benefit for the employer is undeniable.
Quick interaction between employees . All work issues are resolved promptly. In order to contact a colleague with a request or question, you don’t need to run around different offices. This is especially important in work that requires efficiency.
The ability to easily control the work of employees. People staying in a separate room tend to get distracted from their work. The manager has virtually no ability to monitor such unauthorized leave. An open office completely solves this problem. Employees have no chance to put off work.
Democratic. This ensures equality for all employees. The likelihood of forming closed communities is reduced.
Maintaining corporate spirit . A common space creates a unified working spirit, which has a beneficial effect on motivation.

The company values the work of its employees and sees its responsibility in creating and maintaining an atmosphere of goodwill, professionalism, mutual respect, cooperation and stability in the workforce. The company strives to maintain a corporate spirit that unites all employees, regardless of position or official position, into a single team of professionals with a common goal. What other standards of corporate behavior for employees exist?

Easy onboarding of new employees . Newcomers can quickly adapt to the workplace. On the very first day a person meets his colleagues. If a newcomer has any problems, he can address all questions to experienced employees without unnecessary wandering around the organization.
Simplicity of document flow . All documents are located in one room, and therefore you do not have to search for them in all rooms.

First of all, open space is beneficial to the owner of the organization. The employer does not need to allocate a separate workplace for each employee. It is enough to rent one large room and divide it into zones using partitions. The cost of the latter will not hit the company's budget.

Flaws

Open space has many disadvantages:

Increased noise level . Several dozen workers in one room mean constant noise. Phone ringing, employee conversations, noise from office equipment - all this can literally drive you crazy. It is extremely difficult for an employee to concentrate under such stressful conditions.
Constant stress . Lack of personal space, cramped spaces and noise are all factors that contribute to stress and irritability. Of course, this has a negative impact on performance.
Risk of theft . All personal belongings of employees (phones, handbags) are on public display. This may cause workers to fear that they will not have enough of their property.
Probability of conflicts . One person prefers to sit with the window open, another prefers to sit cold. Such little things cause conflicts between colleagues and create a tense atmosphere.
Rapid spread of infectious diseases . All bacteria, infections and viruses are quickly transmitted from employee to employee. According to studies, people get sick more often in open space.

The employer gains in savings on rent, but loses in the productivity of its employees.

What do the employees themselves say?

Open spaces have been operating for quite a long time, and therefore a lot of research has already appeared regarding working in them. Let's look at some of the results:

56% of employees say they lack personal space.
55% of workers do not like the room temperature.
60% lacks silence.

Some studies prove that open space increases the stress level of employees and provokes conflicts. Employees working in open office spaces have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. In addition, such offices experience high staff turnover.

How to create comfortable conditions

Talk with colleagues, set a time for ventilation: 5-6 times a day for 10-15 minutes - optimal
Don't overuse perfume. Some may be allergic or simply irritated by odors
At the workplace - only tea or coffee. Food smells are as distracting as conversations.
You can buy an irradiator-recirculator for your office. Ventilation and bactericidal irradiation reduce the risk of getting sick during cold season
If you are sick, work from home if possible. The only way to prevent ARVI is to avoid contact with sick people
Choose a table near the window. Natural light improves mood and performance. Sun rays increase the level of serotonin - the hormone of happiness