Open Plan Offices.

[lentax]

Hi Everyone,


I work in an office environment, and I have just moved to an open plan office from a quiet office with a couple of people. I find this environment really uncomfortable and find myself much more stressed. I have had problems in an open plan office in the past - I hate the extra noise, and prefer quiet when I am trying to do my work. Like many Dyspraxics, I have concentration problems and am sensitive to sensory stimulus.

Does anyone else have this problem in an office environment? Any tips on how to help? It would be nice to hear your experiences. Thanks.

[maria]

I used to work in an open plan office and hated it too. When it got too loud (and there's always someone, somewhere who feels the need to talk at the top of their voice) I would go for a 5 or 10 minute unofficial break. Would just pick up some random paperwork, as if I had some query or other, and go wandering off to some other section and have a quick chat there with someone I knew.

Also, is there any work you can volunteer to do that's away from your desk? I would always volunteer to scan documents or shred unwanted papers because both the scanner and shredder were in a lovely quiet corner with just two desks. Much easier to cope with just one other person (sometimes nobody else) and the noise of scanner/shredder than loud people!

[Captain_Ludd]

When I worked in one of those partitioned offices I hated it too.
Like maria said I'd often save up jobs that need me to go to the photocopier room so that when it got to bad I'd disappear for a bit.

[yvonnel]

I worked in open plan office for a while and it was a bit of a disaster . I negotiated and was able to wear noise reduction headphone (you can still hear phone) they helped a bit but it was still difficult and I would get distracted by other behaviour . In the end I negotiated a move to quieter corner . But frequent breaks do help

[PhilB]

I work in an open plan office as well. I have headphones I can stick on with my choice of music (for whatever reason I find music less distracting than other background noise). I find that helps. I am also by sheer good fortune tucked away in a quiet corner.

[Philip]

When I have had employment all the jobs have been open plan offices. There was only job whilst doing my placement back in 2002/2003 which was two separate rooms, main office, small office and that was a funeral directors. I was in the main office mainly as it was much easier to do my NVQ.

Even though I was not much help, as we have to do a placement to work towards our NVQ, the experience was good.

Do I like working in open plan offices (well all the jobs I have were temporary via employment agencies) I suppose that is how some companies work.

I prefer to be in a corner out the way.