Time to Rethink the Typical Cubicle Setup

If you’re like many office professionals, you spend your days working 9 to 5 in a cubicle. And, if you’re like many office professionals, you don’t necessarily think that’s the best working environment or situation. And many experts would agree with you.

As this article says, there is lots of research to support the idea that the typical office setting (and the standard office workday) isn’t conducive to developing the happiest or most productive employees.

Lots of this may not be surprising to you at all—namely, the idea that people don’t work at their best when in a cubicle all day. The research says it’s tough to come up with a one-size-fits-all ideal workspace, because we need variety depending on lots of factors including the time of day and the particular tasks we need to do. So the ideal office arrangement would provide flexibility: some communal workspaces, private offices or conference rooms and other arrangements that meet particular needs.

The problem, of course, is that most office workers have little or no say in how your workplace is designed. But if you can come up with changes that involve little expense or inconvenience for your employer—and can make a good case for how this would improve office morale and productivity—you may have a chance.

If not, you may still be able to make some small changes to your own individual workspace. Consider if there’s a way for you to carve out a little “nook” in your cubicle that you can use as a quiet place to retreat. Or think about possible ways to use furniture or accessories to vary the feeling of sections of your workspace.

If you work remotely, this may not be an issue for you at all—but it’s still important for you to vary your environments—say, by working in a co-working space or even just camping out at the local coffee chop occasionally.

How do you feel about the typical office workspace and workday? Have you been successful in changing it?

Image courtesy of MichaelLokner