The open-office trend is destroying the workplace (2014)
My office is switching to an open design.  And none of the people who work there are happy about it.  It was decided by the folks who own the company, several thousand miles away.<p>I think the real allure of open offices is how they look.  Open offices look <i>modern</i>.  They look like the kind of working area a hip, young, collaborative, industry-disrupting company would favor.  But that's all bullshit.  It's just a fairy tale that fools outsiders.  Open offices look great to someone coming in for an interview or an executive visiting from company headquarters 3 states away.  But at this point I think we can be reasonably sure that that's where the benefits end.<p>I don't think this change will damage my productivity much.  I'll have headphones on all day, instead of 10-20% of the day.  Seems like a lot of trouble for that kind of outcome.  I'll probably enjoy shopping for some new headphones though.