Open Office Concepts Put More Stress On Workers: Study

What kind of office environment do you work in? Are you in one of those cubbyholes, closed off from those around you? Or are you in a spacious setting, an open atmosphere that’s favoured by many in modern times?

It turns out that open concept may be closing a door on your well being, while the kind of set-up that makes many feel like faceless drones is actually better for them.

Researchers from Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation in Australia studied data from around the world and found an open office is far more stressful to work in and actually leads to lower employee output.

Scientists based their conclusions on the problems associated with the open concept, which includes being more prone to distraction.

There’s a lot more noise in such a setting and every time a co-worker has a phone conversation nearby, you’re forced to listen in. The conversations of others is also an impediment to getting anything done and it’s hard to hide what you’re doing on your computer.

The loss of privacy can raise your stress levels and it can also make some workers feel more insecure. 

And all that exposure to others can help ailments like the flu and the common cold spread a lot faster, leading to more frequent absences.

Researchers claim management should rethink their office set-ups but aren’t sure they will – the wall-less idea can save a business 20 per cent on construction costs and in these tough times, that may be too much to resist.

So the next time someone’s phone rings near you or a co-worker comes by to chat aimlessly while you’re on deadline, try and relax – your reasons for all that stress may just be out in the open.