The parent I wanted to reply to got deleted, but it feels quite suitable here, so here are my thoughts on difficulties of working in an open office:<p>---------------------------------------------<p>[Not an FB employee, but] Most of my workspaces have been semi-open: offices&#x2F;rooms with ~10 workplaces scattered around, maybe a glass wall or a shelf here and there.
As for HN, FB, etc: it highly depends on the culture, but if the office is open not for control - you just open and browse. One might as well browse stackexchange (e.g. arqade) for leisure or code personal project. The terribleness of NSFW link would be the shame&#x2F;embarrassment you inflict on yourself and maybe an occasional finger pointing if anyone happens to witness.<p>The noise level is definitely higher than in a private office, but then again - culture. Either your colleagues are understanding to keep the noise level down or not. I can&#x2F;could easily listen to music at comfortable levels even with open headphones.<p>A much bigger issue is that people tend to have coffee&#x2F;smoke breaks in groups and it requires some self control not to take a break with each and every group.
I&#x27;m not sure whether that&#x27;s an issue, but since people tend to work different hours (e.g. 7-16, 9-18) it also puts some unconscious pressure to work 9-16 or 7-18.<p>Quite a lot of the &quot;issues&quot; (differences from an office) are related to the person&#x2F;culture and not the workplace itself.