Re:Open offices are a dead end
by tempguy9999 on Thursday September 26, 2019 @12:57PM
(#21082894)
Agreed, it's just a small room with people in it. BTDT.
I worked in london in an open plan office maybe 40ft wide and getting on 200 ft long. That's open plan.
It's fine except for the noise. It's always the noise as the problem, all else is ok.
(edit: not a single company, a collection of small and medium businesses)
> It's fine except for the noise.
And the utter lack of privacy. Want to tell your colleague that Alex is a dick? Better do it in another building, or the entire office will hear it.
Re:Open offices are a dead end
by tempguy9999 on Thursday September 26, 2019 @01:25PM
(#21083188)
It's probably best not to use such language at work or one may be labelled a dick oneself. Keep it polite and any complaints formal.
Don’t worry. Alex knows everyone thinks he’s a dick.
Re:Open offices are a dead end
by SteveMoody73 on Thursday September 26, 2019 @01:18PM
(#21083114)
I work in an open office with about 30 people in it and find it unbarable on times. I have some good noise cancelling headphones that help sometimes but I can't wear them for too long a period before they start getting uncomfortable.
Noise cancelling headphones do absolutely nothing when you put a loud talker next to one. They can't absorb speech.
The other problem is people trying to do Skype or other conferencing calls while wearing closed-can headphones. Their own speech level rises two notches when they can't hear their own voice. Try it for yourself and see.
Honestly skype et al should probably detect if you're using headphones and turn on direct feedback if you are. It makes not only a stark difference for how loud you speak, but also for how annoying and derailing echo on the connection is.
A shared space is fine with <5 people, can become problematic at 5-10 people and the frequently 20+ large floor spaces are just unworkable without noise cancelling headphones.