The answer is not “have you tried wearing noise canceling headphones”.

[tknarr@mstdn.social]

@GrantMeStrength I think more "Don't let people who don't have to actually use the workspace design the workspace.". Or "If open-plan office are so much better for collaboration and productivity, then senior executives should be the first to benefit from them since that'll produce the largest improvements.'.

[jasper89@mastodon.social]

@GrantMeStrength even the designer that brought them to be in the first place quickly scoffed at all those that embraced it for money savings instead of his intent.

Office Space Time Loop: From Open Plans to Cubicle Farms and Back Again - 99% Invisible

In 1960, the designer furniture company Herman Miller formed a research division and began examining how offices actually work. Under the direction of inventor Robert Propst, mathematicians, psychologists and anthropologists were consulted and layouts were examined with an eye toward worker behavior and performance. Out of this endeavor came a modular Action Office system. Made

99% Invisible (99percentinvisible.org)

[mcduncanlab@mstdn.social]

@GrantMeStrength

In grad school, we had an anyone can veto policy for music.

You were free to play a CD or radio until someone else in the room said, turn it off I need to think or change it to something else that's driving me crazy.

It worked, but we were all on good terms (most of the time). Plus we had three rooms so people could decide, I want to be in the quite room.

[sayonaraminasan@urusai.social]

@GrantMeStrength amen.

[mirabilos@toot.mirbsd.org]

@GrantMeStrength it’s also bad to assume everyone even can wear noise-cancelling headphones.

(I cannot wear closed headphones, I get hot ears after about half an hour, followed by ear infect. In-ear is also out. My new work headset is open around-ear and surprisingly works, had no problem with the ears after a five-hour onboarding meeting but they of course don’t isolate in either direction.)

[ivan@privacysafe.social]

@GrantMeStrength this should be a poster. In the office!

[wizardofdocs@wandering.shop]

@GrantMeStrength I don't think even extroverts want open plan offices and constant COVID exposure alerts.

Office policy is being made by whatever the corporate equivalent of the surveillance state is.

[wizardofdocs@wandering.shop]

@GrantMeStrength "surveillance market" just sounds like where you go to buy security cameras

[ertain@mast.linuxgamecast.com]

@GrantMeStrength I agree with this.

[mr_daemon@untrusted.website]

@GrantMeStrength As someone with adhd, the switch to open spaces over the last decade has been... difficult.

I never thought I'd miss shitty nightmarish corporate cubicles, but here we are

[pdebruin@hachyderm.io]

@ivan @GrantMeStrength with a little help from https://www.klompjes.com/en/product/delfts-blauw-tegeltje-met-tekst/

[ivan@privacysafe.social]

@pdebruin @GrantMeStrength that's awesome!

[kristinhenry@vis.social]

@GrantMeStrength easier said than done. I just try to get by with what tools I can manage to get my work done, and enjoy my life.

And yes, noise cancelling headphones are one of many essential tools for that.

[kristinhenry@vis.social]

@GrantMeStrength I'm thinking that it might not have anything to do with introverts vs extroverts, and a lot more with upper management getting their kicks out of torturing every body.

[bob@epicyon.libreserver.org]

@kristinHenry Maintaining the power differential.

[stevefoerster@social.vivaldi.net]

@bob @kristinHenry While I understand the impulse to assume sadism whenever corporations are involved, I'd think the simplest explanation is just that open floor plans are a bit cheaper.