Open offices are bad for us
Open offices are awful, but they're here to stay for the same reason more adults are living with roommates and relatives: high real estate prices.Working remotely is one solution, but many companies don't think it would work for them.Personally, I'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'd physically isolate people who have to make calls from their desks from other employees as much as possible. I'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' offices, and the like.