Brain Fitness NewsAustralian Scientists Say Open-Plan Offices Making Workers Mentally & Physically Sick!
Fans of the movie Office Space, take heed - you now have Science on your side thanks to a study published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Management.
Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation researchers have declared the open-plan workspace to be detrimental to your mental and physical health. Interpreting research from around the world regarding the psychological and physical effects of modern office design schemes, Dr. Vinesh Oommen and colleagues have determined that the transition by many employers and organizations to cheaper, more "economically profitable" business office layouts wherein individuals are deprived of more comfortable space and privacy arrangements contribute to decreased productivity and increased anxiety and stress among employees.
Dr. Oommen states, "The evidence we found was absolutely shocking...In 90 per cent of the research, the outcome of working in an open-plan office was seen as negative, with open-plan offices causing high levels of stress, conflict, high blood pressure, and a high staff turnover."
"The high level of noise causes employees to lose concentration, leading to low productivity, there are privacy issues because everyone can see what you are doing on the computer or hear what you are saying on the phone, and there is a feeling of insecurity."
Organizations run increased risk of workplace conflict due to the 'rats in a cage' effect of employees being bunched together and inundated with noisy distractions that trigger negative psychological and emotional reactions as well as contributes to higher blood pressure and absenteeism due to illnesses that spread quickly through dense office populations.
"I think most of us, including myself, can relate to that," says Dr. Oommen. "Based on these findings, I think employers around the country need to rethink the open-plan environment in their offices. The research found that the traditional design was better - small, private closed offices. The problem is that employers are always looking for ways to cut costs, and using open-plan designs can save 20% on construction."