Workers enjoy new freedom

Ben Eagleson in HOBEC's open-plan office. Photo / Joel Ford

Tauranga office workers say new-style open-plan office layouts are preferable to the closed room offices commonly built in the past.

A new study, conducted by the University of Sydney and published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, found the much-touted advantages of open-plan offices were outweighed by disadvantages such as noise, lack of privacy and lack of space.

However, many Tauranga office workers have voiced their support for the open-plan layouts.

The lawyers at Holland Beckett have been working in an open-plan setting for five years and were generally happy with the arrangement, practice manager Sharline Fitzgerald said.

The open-plan office allowed better delegation and supervision, facilitated "learning by osmosis", and reduced bad behaviour and time wasting as there was always a senior person visible, she said.

Senior solicitor Ben Eagleson said he started his law career in a closed office in Auckland before moving to HOBEC's open office.

"When fresh out of law school it is not easy to learn the practical side of things and for most junior lawyers it will be their first time in a professional workplace.

"Having a [closed] office rather than open plan exacerbates the problem of being able to ask for assistance and hinders absorbing the practical side of how a law practice operates."

Accountancy firm KPMG moved into mostly open-plan offices in the ANZ Centre about a year ago, a move that has been welcomed by most of the staff. Eight out of 10 KPMG staff surveyed by the Bay of Plenty Times said the advantages of the open-plan layout outweighed the disadvantages.

The open-plan offices improve communication within teams and add to the team culture, Angela Thomas said.

"In general terms they also save time by allowing you to readily see if someone you need to speak with is available or not, and you can converse on some matters with those nearby you without having to leave your seat."

Vision Commercial Furniture managing director Kim Hawke said the trend towards open-plan offices was often driven by cost efficiencies.

"With leases at a premium most companies want or have need to get more people in a certain amount of area."

Modern Office director David Littlewood said some of the resistance to open-plan offices was caused by people struggling to adapt to change.

"Open-plan offices work well when they're done correctly, and thought needs to be given to the layout of the desks."

"The people that we speak to always talk about the increased communication between departments, the increased morale in the office, and because of those two things increased productivity."