Has your open plan office had its day?

(If you don't have one, you don't have to read this.)

When they were first introduced, they were seen as being facilitators of communication, interaction and cooperation - bringing disparate groups together.

Now when I see them I think of them as being facilitators of noise and distraction.

It was always the case anyway that some employees found them uncomfortable - exposing and intimidating.

Ia m not saying that they cannot work - only that they should be chosen for those situations where they CAN work - and rejected for situations where they are distractors.

You  need more hybrid offices where those that need them can work in private spaces - after all there are other technical means now of improving communication and interaction ....  the office design does not have to do that.