Should you Have an Open Office Floor Plan?

When it comes to planning the open space where your employee will spend their workday, you have two main options. You can set up the shared space so that each employee has a little cubical that serves as a small, mostly private office space like a cellular office. The second option is going with an open office floor plan which is a design that allows your employees to see one another while they work. There are pros and cons to both options.

Is an Open Office Floor Plan a Good Idea?

If you're asking yourself whether an open office floor plan is a good idea, you're not alone. Many office managers and business owners have found themselves debating that same question. While it would be nice if there was a straightforward, yes or no answer, there isn't. The truth is that there are pros and cons to an open office floor plan. 

The benefits connected to an open office floor plan include:

• They're a more affordable form of office space
• Improved communication between co-workers
• Changing things up is easier
• They're an extremely flexible floorplan style
• They trigger a sense of democracy in the workplace

 The main challenges that come with an open floor plan are:

• Distracted employees
• The open office floor plan makes it too easy for germs, such as the flu virus, to spread throughout the workforce
• The workspace always seemed cluttered
• You will need to consider purchasing extra office accessories to supply employees with necessary privacy, like desk modesty panels

Which is the Best Office Workspace for Your Business

The style of workspace that works best for your business really depends on both the type of work your employees do and the temperament of your average worker.

If you run a business that requires your employees to make numerous phone calls, you'll probably do best with a closed-office work plan. Not only will the closed offices allow each employee to make the call in relative peace, as opposed to feeling like their every word is being overheard, but the cubicles also reduce background noise, making it easier for the client to understand and respond favorably to the call.

If your employees are going to work on projects that have a level of security attached to them or that require a great deal of concentration, you'll also probably do best with a closed office work space. 

On the other hand, if the work requires a great deal of communication and collaboration between employees. If you frequently create groups of employees who are supposed to work on projects together. If you hire people who are outgoing, self-starting, and enjoy an active open workspace, you'll find that the open floor plan office is the best match for your business.

A Happy Medium

If you're struggling to figure out which floor plan will work best for your workforce perhaps you should consider a partially open floor plan. 

The partially open floor plan combines the concept of an open floor plan office with cubicles. The way it works is that instead of full-size cubicles that fully enclose each employee in their private world, half panels are used instead. The design makes it easy for employees to communicate with one another, but also creates a sense of privacy when they want to knuckle down and really concentrate on a task.

Another option would be to create a floor plan that consists of half-open work areas while the second half contains cubicles. This design allows employees to choose which office environment they find best suits their unique style and preference.

This is typically a good balance between the use of cubicles and having a fully open plan. A partially open floor plan doesn't have cubicles that fully surround the employee, but half-size ones that offer employees some privacy when working. This office layout style is flexible because it can accommodate many employee preferences. Lower cubicles offer a more open office environment with increased communication and collaboration for employees that value this, while the floor plan also accommodates those who prefer to sit at their business desks and focus solely on their work. If storage space is an issue, overhead desk storage cabinets can be mounted on desk stands, keeping the area open.

Contact Juniper Office Today!

Even looking at the pros and cons of an open office workspace versus a closed office workspace, it's difficult to decide which is the best option for your business. That's where Juniper Office comes into the picture. We have a top-notch office space planning service that uses 3D space planning so you can get an idea of what the office space will look like, how it encourages productivity, and the types of improvements you can make to the open office design that will make the open workspace more inviting to employees. Getting started is easy, all you have to do is contact us today!

Resources:

Don't Create An Open Office Space Until You Read This Article (forbes.com)

What is an Open Office Concept? (With Types and Benefits) | Indeed.com Canada

The Truth About Open Offices (hbr.org)