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What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

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Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#51

Post by tempestn »

pilsetnieks wrote: post #43
tempestn wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a great point. It's possible for everyone to have offices without having the silly office pecking order politics. Many open plans reserve the prime areas for shared spaces, and there's obviously no reason an office space couldn't (or shouldn't) do that too. In fact, that jogs a faint memory of another post on HN some months back of an office like that; all the actual offices were on the interior, and the windo…

Would that really be the best way to set up offices? I would think that it would be better to set up offices around the perimeter, with as much natural light flowing into them as possible, meanwhile use the center no-window spaces for hallways, conference rooms, communal spaces.

Most buildings will have considerably more interior than window space, so it will be difficult to give all offices a view. In my opinion it's therefore better to have everyone share the nice spaces than to give preferential treatment to some employees. Plus, the point of an office is to have somewhere to concentrate. There's no reason you can't get up and go somewhere nicer for collaboration, creative thinking, relaxation, etc.

Edit, in fact, I just looked up from the desk in my home office and realized my blinds are closed. For a few hours in the afternoon I have to keep them closed to prevent the sun from blinding me, and they often end up staying that way. When I'm working I don't really notice. I'll generally think to open them when I'm in here relaxing on a nice, sunny day.

Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#52

Post by iaw »

rmc wrote: post #30
jedberg wrote: post #10

Zuck may not technically have an office, but if it's anything like the other places I've worked where "the CEO sits right out in the open with everyone else!", then he probably has a conference room reserved for his use 24/7. And this actually makes sense. A lot of what he would talk about would be insider information. You don't want to hear that as an employee.

And I'll bet you can't sit in Zuck's desk or area. How many FB employees are allowed to listen in on his conversations?

If it's non-confidential it doesn't matter, if it's confidential it wont be discussed in an open setting.

Why would FB employees want to listen in on Zuck's conversations? They all have better things to do with their time.

Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#53

Post by iaw »

RyanZAG wrote: post #42

Well this looks like a great breeding ground for the next big plague. If one person gets sick, it'll spread around the entire company? Also looks strangely reminiscent of the industrial revolution. http://3219a2.medialib.glogster.com/jayytyler97/media/c6/c60...

Facebook has an unlimited sick leave policy. If people are contagious they can work from home, if they are too sick to work from home they can rest until they are better.

I agree that the design is not ideal but I think the company culture tries to mitigate some of the negative aspects by being so flexible with various policies.

Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#54

Post by notacoward »

bjwbell wrote: post #25

Rich Geldreich http://richg42.blogspot.com/2015/01/open-office-spaces-and-c... "1. North Korea-like atmosphere of self-censorship: ... even simple conversations with other coworkers can be difficult, because all conversations are broadcasted into the room and you've got to be careful not to step on the toes of 10-20 other people at all times. Good luck with that."

That sounds a lot like the user experience of Facebook, for users who have incompatible groups of family and friends. You know your college friends would appreciate that Bernie Sanders quote, but if you share it on Facebook then your Ted-Nugent-wannabe uncle might flip out. The similarity is surely not coincidental. It's a variant of Conway's law.

Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#57

Post by kisstheblade »

Looks kind of horrible.

But before we all emulate facebook, has anybody figured out how effective they are? I don't know how much "innovation" goes on there or how much actual work they get done. Somehow it feels like you could get by with one tenth of that population. Or maybe I just don't understand all the great features and innovations they must be adding to facebook every day (with thousands of coders etc.). Haven't noticed much change in facebook during the couple of years I have been using it. Maybe they all spend their time "monetizing" me...

Re: What photos of Facebook’s new headquarters say about work

#58

Post by cwilkes »

akjetma wrote: post #20
enraged_camel wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not the companies coming up with the spaces. It's the architects who want to make a name for themselves and earn their astronomical paychecks.

Frank Gehry definitely doesn't have to make a name for himself. I'm surprised by how unattractive this is. Though, come to think of it, I can't picture the interior of any Frank Gehry buildings while I can see lots of exteriors.

Maybe this is all a colossal puton by Gehry: he hates offices so he makes them crappy. Except companies aren't that smart and end up worshipping the design.
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