For many years, having a private office was seen as a sign of success for individuals. Over time, that incentive changed, and having open floor plans for employees created a sense of equality among everyone, regardless of their title. Now, companies are reevaluating the best option: open spaces or private offices.
With hybrid schedules on the rise, the office setup is crucial for companies that want to get their employees excited about coming in. But the answer may be more complex than choosing one or the other. For some employees, coming to the office can be a time to reconnect with coworkers and collaborate, while others are looking for a distraction-free environment because their home office is a little more bustling.
What does this mean for design? Companies will have to offer a variety of both. Employees have diverse needs and even different needs depending on the day. Providing both private and open spaces allows people to choose which environment they have come to the office for. This idea is based on designing around everyone, not just one person.
While there are pros and cons to both open and private working spaces, the bigger picture is that employees want to succeed and offering assorted options guaranteed to appease everyone.