Open offices are bad for us
Open offices are awful, but they&#x27;re here to stay for the same reason more adults are living with roommates and relatives: high real estate prices.<p>Working remotely is one solution, but many companies don&#x27;t think it would work for them.<p>Personally, I&#x27;d make the shared area for solitary work only: no work discussions longer than a minute at work areas (use a conference room, take a walk or Slack), no eating at work areas, no audible media. I&#x27;d physically isolate people who have to make calls from their desks from other employees as much as possible. I&#x27;d also provide a break room for eating and install some retro phone booths in it for semiprivate personal calls on breaks. Also, a private room--not necessarily big--for breast feeding and pumping, taking medication, calling doctors&#x27; offices, and the like.