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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?

#41

Post by chx »

tintor wrote: post #10
dx034 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's more about the noise level. Open plan office means that there's constant noise from talking and phones. Some can ignore that noise but for others, noise cancelling headphones are the only solution. Easier communication is certainly a benefit but I'm not sure if it outweighs the loss in productivity, especially for people that don't constantly have to talk to others to do their job.

Noise cancelling headphones will cancel low frequency sounds like fans / AC, but not high frequency ones like talking and phones.

Talk is low frequency enough typically.

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

#42

Post by sametmax »

FanaHOVA wrote: post #37
sametmax wrote: post #32

Any companies whose business model is security may want to avoid open spaces. Among those I worked with, like some chip makers (gemalto, safran, etc), space agencies (the CNES comes to mind) or banks (labanquepostale/banque populaire have a few old school offices, bank of luxembourg has lots open plan though). I don't think founders think the geeks wellbeing is ever a criteria to choose a floor plan. Money, space and…

I know from experience that a few banks have open office spaces with hot desks. (Clearly not for all employees, but part of their tech staff works like that)

Yes, I didn't say "all", I said "some" that I visited.

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

#43

Post by chx »

kayamon wrote: post #8

Lots of (in fact most?) companies don't have an open plan office. When I used to work at Activision, they didn't and still don't. > How is this acceptable? Because it's totally fine. If you can't work with another human nearby you might want to get over yourself and think about what you're doing with your life.

Erm, no. It's not just the auditory noise but also the visuals. We are wired to react to movement seen from the side of our eyes. What am I to do, wear sideblinds like a horse?

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

#44

Post by newfoundglory »

kayamon wrote: post #8

Lots of (in fact most?) companies don't have an open plan office. When I used to work at Activision, they didn't and still don't. > How is this acceptable? Because it's totally fine. If you can't work with another human nearby you might want to get over yourself and think about what you're doing with your life.

If “open office” makes you think “another human nearby”, you may not be informed enough to contribute on this topic. That would be a shared office - an open office generally means many people nearby.

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

#45

Post by rdl »

kamaal wrote: post #24

Never understood the rationale behind open floor offices. I currently work in a cubicle set up, and people set up war rooms anytime they want close collaboration. Open offices seem to take this exceptional case and make it the norm. At the same time open floor offices cause a lot of trouble to people in non-exception situations.

1) Cheaper -- different budgets. Usually the people specing the office are judged on how cheaply they can deliver (partially), not on anything related to employee productivity.

2) Open offices look way better in photos/concepts -- so they'll get chosen over a boring all-offices layout

3) Much easier to reconfigure -- this is why a lot of startups or those in high-growth periods end up in them, even if they'd prefer offices. Even cubicles require some professional reconfiguring, but anything requiring permitted construction is a big deal.

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

#46

Post by dx034 »

gumby wrote: post #28
dx034 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's more about the noise level. Open plan office means that there's constant noise from talking and phones. Some can ignore that noise but for others, noise cancelling headphones are the only solution. Easier communication is certainly a benefit but I'm not sure if it outweighs the loss in productivity, especially for people that don't constantly have to talk to others to do their job.

It's not just noise -- people moving in your visual field is very distracting.

Large screens help there and also help with productivity.

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

#47

Post by dx034 »

tintor wrote: post #10
dx034 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's more about the noise level. Open plan office means that there's constant noise from talking and phones. Some can ignore that noise but for others, noise cancelling headphones are the only solution. Easier communication is certainly a benefit but I'm not sure if it outweighs the loss in productivity, especially for people that don't constantly have to talk to others to do their job.

Noise cancelling headphones will cancel low frequency sounds like fans / AC, but not high frequency ones like talking and phones.

I had Bose for a long time but now bought a much cheaper pair on Amazon (TaoTronic brand, £35). They work surprisingly well, without music voices are already much quieter and with music (on low volume), I cannot hear someone calling my name even when they're close to me. It's by far better than the 3yr old Bose NC headphones I had before (I can imagine today's Bose are at least on the same level though).

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

#49

Post by nnoisyneighbors »

chx wrote: post #43
kayamon wrote: post #8

Lots of (in fact most?) companies don't have an open plan office. When I used to work at Activision, they didn't and still don't. > How is this acceptable? Because it's totally fine. If you can't work with another human nearby you might want to get over yourself and think about what you're doing with your life.

Erm, no. It's not just the auditory noise but also the visuals. We are wired to react to movement seen from the side of our eyes. What am I to do, wear sideblinds like a horse?

if managers could make people wear sideblinds they would. And the parent would say "Because it's acceptable. Get over yourself."

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

#50

Post by icebraining »

tbassetto wrote: post #6

Cisco Norway (where I work) doesn't have open floor plans. Cisco San Jose (the HQ) is a different story though. Also, I doubt that Basecamp (formerly named 37signals) has open floor plans.

They do have open floor plans, but also five "team rooms": https://basecamp.com/about/office
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