Open offices are intended to improve worker collaboration. This does not always occur due to the lack of privacy in open offices. You may be wondering how to create privacy in an open office floorplan if your company uses one. When there isn’t enough thought put into the initial office design and layout, open-plan offices are not as effective.
Workers in open offices have little or no privacy. As a result, many workers isolate themselves rather than taking the initiative to communicate with their coworkers, causing their productivity to suffer. People often complain that their new open office is too noisy, that there isn’t enough privacy, that they are distracted, and that they can’t hear their colleagues clearly when collaborating.
Designated Quiet Spaces
A quiet space is any enclosed room that provides a quiet environment for employees. If your open office has a breakroom, you can designate it as a quiet space. You could also designate an unused conference room as a quiet space. Having a designated quiet space in an open-plan office is essential for making important phone calls or holding meetings. Individual or quiet work should be specifically designated in the space. Creating designated zones will assist in limiting noise to specific areas. You can use furniture to divide the space and create more intimate areas.
Ideas for quiet areas:
Meeting room or glass office
High-walled booth
Booth chair with a high back and sides
Privacy Screens
The most popular option for open-plan offices is office workstations with desk-mounted screening. Screening can provide you with varying levels of privacy while keeping you connected to your team. Freestanding screens are ideal for separating areas such as open lounge areas or meeting tables. Desk dividers are vertically mounted in the middle of a desk, separating the workers who use them.
Partitioning walls are tall structures used to divide areas in a large and open space, such as an open office. They can be freestanding or wall-mounted. Once installed, the partitioning walls will divide the areas around them. They are not permanent or load-bearing, unlike most walls. Partitioning walls are short-term vertical structures that create a visual barrier between two or more areas. They are simple to instal between workstations and provide workers with additional privacy. Remember to select partitioning walls that are the appropriate size for your open office.
Acoustic Walls and Booths
Because noise is such a problem in open offices, you may want to consider using acoustic panels. Acoustic panels are boards made of materials that absorb sound. They are intended to absorb sound waves and thus reduce noise levels. Acoustic panels can be installed on the walls of your open office. Your open office should be quieter after you instal acoustic panels on the walls. An acoustic booth can provide workers with additional privacy. Because office booths are made of soundproof materials, they provide a quiet environment. A work booth, of any size, will provide a secluded and peaceful space in your open office.
At Bevisco, we are committed to providing you with intelligent and high-quality furniture solutions to boost productivity and employee morale.