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Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

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Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#21

Post by a_imho »

jkot wrote: post #13

Private offices are common, but not in the Bay - It is a form of compensation. Cash/stock is preferred form here. To get other benefits (private office, remote) look at different place. - Office space is at premium, private offices are expensive. Again look somewhere else. - Startup culture is associated with open office. Large corporations are better with this :-( - 'Extremely unproductive' is not an argument. Manag…

>Startup culture is associated with open office. Large corporations are better with this

In 2011 the company I was working for (not in the Bay Area) moved to its new building. Most of the offices were tailor made for the teams, with plenty of space left to expand. It was my favourite place to work by far. Then a few years later some of the managers became obsessed with startup culture and decided to break down the walls to implement an open plan. It was a massive step back (which cost a lot to boot) which caused quite a bit of tension with the engineers and eventually only set back the company.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#22

Post by bambax »

dijit wrote: post #4

I also have the same predicament as you, I simply _cannot_ focus in open office environments and I'm not even sure why so I can't curb the problem. I'm not sure if it's a feeling of being watched, or a feeling of uncertainty in my surroundings... or even if it's the possibility of being surprised/interrupted from behind. Eitherway, I'm trying to push the idea of working from home- people aren't very receptive but aft…

> the alternative of course is smaller offices for 3-6 people (...) That was actually really nice.

Really? In my experience a small office with more than 1 person is worse than a complete open space (while an office for 1, with a door, is the best).

To be productive I need to not see and not be seen; I feel more anonymous in a big loud crowd than in a small office with 2 other people who can still speak to one another or to me, or on the phone, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#24

Post by colechristensen »

arjunvpaul wrote: post #19

Why is wearing headphones not an option? Just curious.

Having some of the noise diminished by putting things on your ears != being alone. I'm just slightly physically uncomfortable in a large room filled with people, especially when I'm trying to focus on something. Especially when that's how I'd spend 2/3 of my waking life on work days.

It's not to the level anywhere near some sort of phobia, it's just that when I'm in a big room with a lot of activity a portion of my brain is dedicated to concern for what's happening in the room. In an office, it's a space that I own and control. That level of comfort leads to more productivity and happiness.

I don't want to be alone in an office all the time or even necessarily most of the time, but without that cave to return to when I need to focus, life is just plain worse.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#25

Post by cyberferret »

I cannot believe that still in this day and age, there is still a belief that open offices are better for developers?? Joel Spolsky tried to set the record straight, what, about 15 years ago?

For the record, I don't normally listen to music when programming - I like a quiet environment. Interruptions are a bane. I have a private office, but as soon as anyone enters - even quietly, my flow state is broken.

Plus on the flipside, while waiting for a long compile or download, I will grab one of the guitars sitting in my office and randomly jam away. I am sure in an open office environment, my co-workers would not appreciate that either.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#27

Post by dasmoth »

codyb wrote: post #15

I haven't sat at my desk in probably three or more weeks. I have great headphones but I prefer to work in silence if I can. Our workplace has plenty of offices and couchspaces and I just move around (sometimes because I get kicked out if rooms). Usually I'm with one or sometimes two or three other engineers. I enjoy that. I had an office once at a small place but it had no windows. It eventually drove me a bit crazy,…

Moving around is good

Being kicked out of a room just as something is about to click is... not so good.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#28

Post by dasmoth »

cyberferret wrote: post #25

I cannot believe that still in this day and age, there is still a belief that open offices are better for developers?? Joel Spolsky tried to set the record straight, what, about 15 years ago? For the record, I don't normally listen to music when programming - I like a quiet environment. Interruptions are a bane. I have a private office, but as soon as anyone enters - even quietly, my flow state is broken. Plus on the…

The argument has shifted to "worse for individual productivity but what actually matters is teamwork."

Plus a lot of claims, some of them coming from practising software developers, that you shouldn't trust the output of the lone hacker holed up in her own office.

No, I don't buy it either.

Re: Ask HN: Are there any tech companies in the Bay Area that offer private offices?

#30

Post by kayoone »

codyb wrote: post #15

I haven't sat at my desk in probably three or more weeks. I have great headphones but I prefer to work in silence if I can. Our workplace has plenty of offices and couchspaces and I just move around (sometimes because I get kicked out if rooms). Usually I'm with one or sometimes two or three other engineers. I enjoy that. I had an office once at a small place but it had no windows. It eventually drove me a bit crazy,…

I have worked from home for 5 years and now work in an open plan office and enjoy it more honestly. I don't really feel less productive and i certianly feel less alone when i can chat to coworkers from time to time or discuss development question with my coworkers. I have good headphones when i need to focus or can also go to one of the meeting rooms or work from home if i really want to work uninterrupted for a longer stretch. I would definetly consider myself an introvert but i still enjoy being around other people from time to time. I think the long time working from home alone really hurt me in some ways in retrospect.
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