The finding from an online survey of 650 employees conducted for UK fit-out specialists Dale Office Interiors, echoes the conclusions of previous research into the potentially detrimental impact of open office layouts which are the primary workspace for more than eight million employees in the United Kingdom. [1 2].
In answer to the question: 'Would you prefer your boss to work in an open-plan office with you, or in a private office?', 30 per cent of participants responded they would 'feel more comfortable' if their manager worked from a private office - often citing difficulties with concentration as their main reason.
A further 25 per cent believed they would 'be more productive' without a manager within close proximity.
Just 14.4 per cent indicated productivity would increase if their boss was more visible within the department.
However, the findings also highlight some of the benefits of open-plan working, with 29 per cent of respondents feeling they would enjoy better communication with their manager in such an environment.
Interestingly, the poll identified discrepancies in the preferences of male and female employees: whilst men reported feeling more comfortable in open-plan spaces (54.3 per cent), women indicated a preference for working with their manager in a private office space (54.5 per cent) - a response that contradicts previous research findings that male employees thrive in a more hierarchical set-up and women favour a more 'egalitarian' office culture and layout. [3].
A generational gap?
The age of poll respondents also appears to have opinions as, although employees aged between 18 and 44 expressed more favour towards an open-plan scheme for reasons of both better communication and increased productivity, their 45- to 64-year-old counterparts appeared to perceive their productivity as higher when their manager was in a private office.
Overall, the findings suggest that designing and configuring a workspace requires flexibility. Despite the continued popularity of open-plan offices, these results show they are not necessarily conducive to the comfort or productivity of all staff.
Warren Bricknell, managing director of Dale Office Interiors, says: "The office as we have known it is becoming defunct. We need to give the users of the space - whether managers or general staff - the choice to work how and where they want to, to suit the task at the time.
"This is the way workspaces will have to go. It may be a desk or a booth, a bean bag or a conference table - but people want choice. It's about being outcomes-driven rather than having a rigid, traditional office layout and KPIs."
The survey results are set out below and a report is available in full at: http://daleoffice.co.uk/open-plan-best-plan-employees-less-productive-manager-room-research-suggests/.
|
Would you prefer your boss to work in an open-plan office with you, or be in a private office? |
|
|
Private office - I'd feel more comfortable |
30% |
|
Private office - I'd be more productive |
25% |
|
Open office - I'd have better communication |
29% |
|
Open office - I'd be more productive |
14.4% |
(Data collated in September 2017 via online survey questionnaire with 650 respondents).
