Although open-plan offices were hailed as the way to improve collaboration and communication among employees for many years, a growing body of research indicates that open-plan working environments are less than optimal.
In fact, in some cases they have the opposite impact to those intended and make workers’ lives worse in many respects.
What are the disadvantages of open-plan offices?
Research published earlier this year found that those working in open-plan office environments, rather than private or small shared offices, were more likely to experience workplace bullying.
The researchers believe this is because small irritations build up more easily in open-plan spaces, while simultaneously providing no space in which someone can get some respite from a colleague they either find irritating or who is bullying them.
According to researchers, those working in open-plan offices are also more likely to experience stress, more likely to be considering leaving their jobs and more likely to struggle with concentration.
This is in addition to the overall lower levels of health recording among workers in open-plan spaces, as well as lower job satisfaction.
One 2018 study conducted by Harvard Business School found that face-to-face communication and in-person collaboration fell considerably in open-plan office environments compared to those where people had private space.
This is particularly interesting given that one of the main arguments often cited in favour of open-plan spaces is that they improve communication and collaboration between co-workers.
But if you have an open-plan office space and want to make the shift to improve both working conditions and collaboration, what are your options?
How to use glass partitions to divide up an office space
One of the top options to help solve the issues associated with open-plan work environments without making everyone feel like they are hemmed in is to install office glass partitions in your space.
Because glass is, naturally, clear, this doesn’t restrict the light within any part of your office space and it still ensures that your premises have an open feeling to them.
However, the upside to glass partitions is that they provide privacy in that they can be sound-proof and can help separate people into smaller working groups within their teams rather than relying on everyone being in the same space and sharing large banks of desks.
You can use glass partitions to not only create smaller separate office spaces, but also to set up dedicated focus zones and meeting rooms on your floor.
In short, with some careful design decisions, you can create different working zones that support everyone in your space.
What are the main features of office glass partitions?
The main features that make office glass partitions a popular option are:
- Their versatility
- Their ability to let light through
- Sound insulation
- Visual connection despite separate spaces
Versatility
Glass partitions for offices can be designed to suit your space and the type of work your teams carry out. There are various ways in which glass partition walls can be erected, which means they are suitable for most modern office environments.
Because you can also select banded glass partitioning, which provides additional privacy when needed without compromising on style or blocking light from flowing through the space.
Ability to let light through
Research indicates that exposure to natural light not only makes us happier and improves our wellbeing, but also makes us more productive in a work environment.
Glass partitions are therefore an excellent choice because they eliminate the concern that you’ll have dark or gloomy offices. Instead they ensure that daylight continues to reach through the space, even if some desks are not next to windows.
Sound insulation
One of the most common complaints about open-plan office environments is the noise levels. This is particularly challenging when you have sales teams that may spend a lot of time talking on the phone, in the same space as those who need to do deep focus work.
Glass partitions, particularly those that are double glazed for additional sound insulation, provide an elegant solution. You still have a sense of team cohesion, but without the disruption caused by clashes in working styles.
Double-glazed glass partitions are also valuable for spaces where privacy is a concern, such as an office where you may have confidential discussions or to ensure there is a room where you can raise concerns with a manager without fear of being overheard by your colleagues.
Visual connection despite separate spaces
Finally, glass partitions enable your teams to maintain a visual connection with one another, and to interact in their work environment, while still providing them with separate working spaces.
Providing dedicated collaborative spaces and meeting rooms, in addition to separate offices, can also help support inter-team connections and working without disrupting those who might need a more peaceful working environment.
