The volume of complaints -- both in terms of quantity and loudness – against the open office plan had been reaching critical mass just prior to the pandemic. Forward-thinking facility managers were already looking at ways to create more flexible, occupant-friendly space than the noisy, distracting open office plan workers hated.
Fast forward to the present, as facility managers are hoping to create an enticing office environment to convince workers to come back to the office. Though flexibility and certain office perks are certainly key, how facility managers recondition space to meet this new reality will depend on several factors, including company culture, the exact return-to-office policy, and the condition of existing space. But one universality about occupants returning to the office: They still do not want an open office plan.
Several recent articles have pointed out how open office plans are detrimental to occupant satisfaction in return-to-work policies. Forbes offers advice on how to do an “offset recent” in the post-pandemic workplace, and suggest that the traditional open office should be done away with. The Wall Street Journal concurs, relaying the results of a survey about why occupants are resistant to returning to the office full time. One of the main reasons: Old open office plans are very, very bad.
It’s probably not right to overcorrect and return to the cubicle farm, but facility managers should work on finding a happy medium. That means different types of space for different types of work, and flexibility built into the office to give workers a chance to move around if they want, or stay put at a desk if that’s their choice.
Greg Zimmerman is senior contributing editor for FacilitiesNet.com and Building Operating Management magazine.
