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Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

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Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#161

Post by afoot »

ubermonkey wrote: post #157

I get I'm part of the privileged few, but: I've been working for a small software company for almost 11 years, and EVERYONE at my company is remote. We don't lease any real estate anywhere, unless a mailbox and a colo rack count. It's AWESOME, but there are caveats. The biggest one is that we can't really hire newbies; everyone we've brought in has to be mid-career at a minimum because the absence of the "water coole…

This is very interesting, because your office sounds like hell to me. Any time I work from home I'm absolutely desperate for meaningless social interaction, a walk and a chat while out for coffee, a beer with my team at lunch or after work and face to face discussion. I guess it's hard to find something that works for everyone.

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#162

Post by Dangeranger »

gpvos wrote: post #155
matte_black wrote: post #144

One thing that also matters, that people tend to neglect, is ceiling height. In general when you need to do focused concentrated work, it’s best to work in a room with a low ceiling, the lower the better. Ideally it’s a ceiling you could almost touch. If you need to do more creative thinking, it is better to have a high ceiling, the higher the better (think cathedrals), though there must be a ceiling at some point.

Citation needed.

Here is an example article[0] and a research study from Oxford[1] which reinforce the claim.

[0] https://www.fastcodesign.com/3043041/why-our-brains-love-hig...

[1] http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/519146

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#163

Post by oneeyedpigeon »

blattimwind wrote: post #85
majewsky wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> maybe 60sqft-ish? For those of us with non-ridiculous units, that's 5-6 m².

That's rather small, even for a single-person office.

Wow — I'd like your work environment. Mine is approximately 6m² and it's shared by 8 people!

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#165

Post by howard941 »

ecshafer wrote: post #123
jrootabega wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You shouldn't have to strap something to your face just to get work done. That's for animals. What about your seatmate who eats hot lunch next to you? That's your problem; put in your noseplugs. People walking around constantly? Put on your horse blinders.

People walking by is my big thing. I hate people being in my peripheral vision when I am trying to work. That and feeling like people are behind me..it's much worse than the sound.

One of the mech engrs in a cube has a mirror on his wall that puzzled me until I spent a day in the cube farm. I will steal that idea when they relocate me from a private office to cube hell.

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#166

Post by randcraw »

brian-armstrong wrote: post #92
KozmoNau7 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It has gotten to the point where I'm seriously considering just working from home every day, even though that's strictly not allowed. Open-plan offices are absolutely maddening, I get pulled out of my thoughts constantly, and there's no effective way to shut it out. Earplugs aren't enough, and with headphones I would have to play music so loudly it would be annoying my colleagues, just in order to cut out the constan…

You might try earplugs and earmuffs at the same time. It's a pretty effective level of sound isolation.

The better 'earmuffs' out there should be enough w/o plugs. The passive model that I have (3M Peltor Optime 105, $21) cut sound by 30 dB. Nearly dead silence.

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#167

Post by bluntfang »

afoot wrote: post #161
ubermonkey wrote: post #157

I get I'm part of the privileged few, but: I've been working for a small software company for almost 11 years, and EVERYONE at my company is remote. We don't lease any real estate anywhere, unless a mailbox and a colo rack count. It's AWESOME, but there are caveats. The biggest one is that we can't really hire newbies; everyone we've brought in has to be mid-career at a minimum because the absence of the "water coole…

This is very interesting, because your office sounds like hell to me. Any time I work from home I'm absolutely desperate for meaningless social interaction, a walk and a chat while out for coffee, a beer with my team at lunch or after work and face to face discussion. I guess it's hard to find something that works for everyone.

coffee shops exist for this. rent a 5x5 desk in a coworking space. there are alternatives to home office for remote work.

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#169

Post by gdulli »

bluntfang wrote: post #167
afoot wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is very interesting, because your office sounds like hell to me. Any time I work from home I'm absolutely desperate for meaningless social interaction, a walk and a chat while out for coffee, a beer with my team at lunch or after work and face to face discussion. I guess it's hard to find something that works for everyone.

coffee shops exist for this. rent a 5x5 desk in a coworking space. there are alternatives to home office for remote work.

Personally either of those options would be better for me than working out of my home. But it's a curious alternative to working in an office. You're still surrounded by people and get the downsides of you're sensitive to them (I'm not) but you don't get the social benefits.

Re: Ask HN: What are some tech companies that do not use an open floor plan?

#170

Post by DisruptiveDave »

I juuuust got off a catch-up call with an old college buddy who works at one of the big wireless companies. He described what I read about here on HN and in some blog posts: The company completely changed its "culture" in a desperate attempt to "attract millennials" (and be on trend). Moved to an open floor plan where nobody has an assigned desk. You literally cannot leave anything overnight or you get some sort of a citation. His words: "I spend my day with a headset covering one ear and my finger in the other ear, as I'm on calls most of the day." He also noted how they computerized the cafeteria so you don't have/get to interact with food workers anymore. "All my sandwiches have too much mayo now and I can't do anything about it."
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