Cubicle

A large office is an office concept. There is a room with a large surface area, which houses a variety of office workstations. A clear definition of the term -plan office does not exist. Various definitions describe it as an office with at least ten, some as an office with at least 20 jobs. As a base, a large office to at least 400 m².

Design of open-plan offices

Open-plan offices are often divided by medium-high room dividers in cells and corridors. The cells (usually referred to simply as the English terms box or cubicle ) contain one or more jobs. In the U.S., especially the Cubicle Office with individual boxes is widespread. A box is defined by three or four room divider. These usually have a fabric covering and are placed in a square with a side length of about 1.50 m, so that a space cell results in an input. The room dividers do not reach the ceiling, they are often 1.50 m to 1.65 m high.

In modern open-plan office - design emphasis is put on to place the boxes near a window, so get the workers there daylight. In the core area in the center of the open-plan offices or meeting rooms archives are housed. Sound insulating a room divider limits the individual cubicles from each other and are intended to provide an undisturbed working environment in spite of the open space. Cubicles for four to eight workers tend to be more popular than individual workstations.

The modern open-plan office design also is based on the performed activities. For activities that require a high concentration, are soundproofed cells an advantage. Activities that require teamwork, benefit from an open space concept, which facilitates communication. When planning the limits set by the OSH also be observed, which provide 12 to 15 square meters per person per work area, including traffic areas. Refuges should contribute to a pleasant work environment.

Advantages and disadvantages of open-plan offices

Open-plan offices are often unpopular with workers in Germany, since protection against acoustic disturbances is insufficient and the privacy is less; Employee is a permanent social control or monitoring to see exposed and need to secure confidential documents and personal belongings from theft or unauthorized disclosure operate effort. Various studies reveal that employees feel stressed faster in open-plan offices, are less productive and are also faster ill. An Australian meta-study of 2009 analyzed studies from around the world for office design and determined that 90 percent of working in offices employees reported negative effects on the physical and mental health. Problems include overstimulation, loss of privacy and the feeling that colleagues would monitor the work steadily. These problems would lead to the loss of identity. In addition, the danger of infection from viruses and bacteria in the open-plan office is significantly higher than in the office.

Depending on the design of open-plan offices may still have other disadvantages: In the inner regions of the employees sit far away from the daylight with artificial light. Ventilation is often air conditioning. What influence does the office design on the health and performance of employees, showed 2003, the ' Office study ' of the Fraunhofer Institute.

Open-plan offices also have advantages. Employers can reduce up to 20 percent of their development costs through the use of the large office space, according to the Australian study. In addition, the communication of the employees should be encouraged. Greater flexibility in room design and better monitoring of employees can be seen as advantages. In particular, the economic use of space makes the open-plan office for many employers seem attractive. The Association bso (Association office, seating and furniture) warns, however, that the savings can be leveled by the economic use of space by a higher absenteeism of employees in open-plan office.