[rotten42]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Generally people will do whatever they want, regardless of the proper ettiquette. Trying to ask people to change will likely only make the problem worse. It really is a "suck it up" type situation.

On this topic, I really don't understand why companies are moving to lower cube walls and more open 'collaberative' areas. I found it was just more distracting as I could hear phone calls from three cubes down and they were just talking at a normal level. Any coverstaion just carried arcoss the "bullpen" and it was hard to focus. There was minimal collaberation but lots of distractions. Hope to see this trend reverse.

Well there are many reasons for it. Going to cubes is usually a fiscal decision. Generally they have a smaller footprint than an office for real-estate costs it makes sense. Just lowering the height of cubicle doesn't necessarily encourage collaboration. There are many factors that go into it. It shouldn’t be looked at as solely a collaboration thing or a fiscal move. It should be looked upon in terms of productivity and well being.The success of businesses today depends on the health and wellbeing of employees. Spaces need to promote interaction, movement and productivity across different types of tasks to achieve productivity and wellness in the work place. Having a variety of work settings in the office is key to achieving

There are 6 attributes of wellness in the workspace:

1) Optiminsm
2) Mindfulness
3) Authentcity
4) Belonging
5) Meaning
6) Vitality


Sometimes these aspects get groups into larger terms:

Physical wellbeing
Emotion welbeing
Cognitive well being


If you are into this stuff there are some articles about the research behind this.

Wellbeing
https://village.steelcase.com/commun...ng-sales-tools

Wellbeing Bottom line
http://360.steelcase.com/articles/we...issue-article/

Does your environment undermine wellbeing
http://http://360.steelcase.com/arti...ine-wellbeing/


In my time in the industry I have seen many corporation go from the closed environment to an open environment. Some have succeeded while other have failed miserably. The motivating factors for changing have a large influence on which way they end up.