The open office plan is the most popular type of working space in most companies. According to various surveys, over 70% of American employees work in an open office space. So, does this mean that the open office plan is the ideal environment for increased productivity?

Scientific Research Raised Many Objections against Open Office Space

Various studies conducted along the years by universities and specialized organizations in labor health and productivity indicate that the open office plan is far from ideal for a healthy, motivated and productive workforce.

1. Health Issues

Research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health found out that people who work in an open office space need to take 62% more sick leave days than people who work in individual offices.

2. Looking Busy Trumps Being Productive

A very recent research paper published by the Royal Society and conducted by a Harvard University professor, who used empirical data and not self-reported assessments, found out that working in an open space makes people strive to look busy all the time. They feel under constant supervision by their colleagues and their natural response to this is to appear involved in lots of tasks, to the detriment of actual productivity.

3. Open Space = Disruptive Noise

A 2011 survey involving over 250 employees who work in an open space environment found out that one of the biggest complaints is the constant background noise which prevents them from focusing properly and being productive, so buy cubicles, furniture and office chairs for sale that offer some comfort, possibly helping them to focus more on their work and not the noise around them.