When my company moved to an open office plan we, the developers, tried to argue that we needed the ability to concentrate and that this would hinder that. We were told that every job required concentration and that we shouldn't be such prima donnas who think we are special snowflakes. Someday I'm going to get a special snowglobe and shove it down the throat of the sales lady who sits next to me who holds conference c…
Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
61–70 of 483 posts
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#62Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#63As the moderator of a Reddit sub focused on comp sci careers, I don't think the open office is an issue for junior level developers. The worship of what we in that sub call the big 4 (some combo of Google, Facebook, Apple (or Microsoft), Amazon) is pretty much what you hear from every college senior, and I've never heard anyone even mention this as a negative. Of course these are mostly people who haven't had much ex…
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#64An open office wouldn't be so bad if library-like codes of silence were enforced.
Yep. Work in an office with communal[1] music, it's really bad for focus. I would say that this policy likely loses us money. [1] controlled by a clique, really
Another place they had the radio on so I would laugh loudly at the DJs jokes, then say oh man, so funny, but so distracting, what was I doing again? Oh hell. I can't remember. They turned that off too.
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#65Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#66Is there anyone here who likes open offices more than a floorplan divised into smaller rooms? I ask because I've worked in an open office setting as a developer for years (the place is otherwise nice) and thoroughly despise it as a workspace. Yet some people don't seem to mind it. I don't mind serendipity. The problem is I serendiptously overhear everyones discussion which is incredibly disruptive for deep work. Fact…
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#67Facebook is paying 40-50 percent more than other places, which is usually a sign developers don’t want to work there. More likely a sign of a high hiring bar and corresponding paycheck.
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#68Open offices were developed by people who don't have to really concentrate for their job. They're awful for developers.
People go to cafes to work. It is not closed cubicles there. And I think they are able to concentrate more. I know for one that I can.
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#69Anyone got a photo of this office? It sounds spectacular. Not saying it's effective, just saying it sounds visually impressive and awe inspiring.
Re: Is Facebook’s Massive Open Office Scaring Away Developers?
#70I worked for a year at IBM's RTP campus. Everyone had their own dimly lit cube with 5-foot walls, no natural daylight, and white noise playing over speakers to drown out conversation. The depressing undertone of the office was part of what pushed me to quit. My team at my present job works in an open setting with 8 people in the room and windows with natural daylight. It's quiet enough to focus but gives us the oppor…