Open-plan offices have been a popular layout for many companies, but they come with both advantages and disadvantages.
At Tapper Interiors, we supply and fit office partitions to divide open-plan spaces and improve the working environment. Although an open-plan office can have several advantages, we believe it’s always a good idea to have at least some separate spaces for private meetings or a quieter workplace.
Advantages of Open Plan Offices
There are several advantages of open-plan offices, and depending on the size of your organisation or the structure of communication, you may find them helpful. Some of the main benefits of open-plan offices are:
Easy Collaboration and Communication: Open-plan offices allow for easy communication and collaboration among employees, as there are no physical barriers between them. This can lead to increased idea-sharing and teamwork.
Layout Flexibility: The open space means the office can be easily rearranged. Desks and workstations can be rearranged where required for better collaboration or as the size of the team changes.
Share Natural Light: in an open-plan office, natural light is able to flow freely throughout the office. This creates a brighter and more spacious environment.
Access to Managers and Management Involvement: Without physical barriers in an open-plan office, managers can easily oversee their teams and provide support when needed.
Disadvantages of Open Plan Offices
Now we have considered the advantages of open-plan offices, here are some of the disadvantages:
No or Little Privacy: Open-plan offices offer little privacy. This has been known to be detrimental to tasks that require concentration or confidentiality. Employees may feel uncomfortable discussing sensitive matters or making personal calls in such environments. This is why it’s a good idea to have a smaller breakout office built using office partitions. This can allow employees to have their private discussions but still use the open-plan office for the main working area.
High Noise Levels: An open-plan office has no walls or partitions, so noise levels will be higher. This can lead to distractions and decrease productivity for some employees.
Partition Solutions for Open Plan Offices
To get the best of both worlds, you can segregate the space in your open-plan office using office partitions. Contact Tapper Interiors today to discuss the options for your open-plan space. We have several different options available to suit your space.
If you are hoping to create smaller offices with lots of privacy, we suggest a solid wall partition. We offer these as metal-framed stud walls with plaster boards. They offer great acoustics and ticking boxes for sound and visual privacy.
If you need to reduce noise levels but want to maintain as much natural light as possible, then some of our glass partitioning systems would fit your requirements. We offer double-glazed options for added sound absorption.
Partitions from Tapper Interiors
For more information on our types of partitions or to discuss your options, please contact a member of our team today.