Qualcomm
If you are in QRC, T, N or S. I think the newer buildings are open office plans.
Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
61–70 of 252 posts
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree. But if you consider having a personal office a smart thing, this isn't going to easy or even possible.
I consider having an office a smart thing. Shared offices are better than no offices. I don't think shared offices are too much to ask if your employer is a software company.
This is of course location sensitive. In London, UK, I have not heard of personal or shared offices anywhere but very small companies.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#63On the general question of open vs. private offices, my views have tempered over time. The first time I worked in an open office, I hated it. But I've come to realize that a lot depends on the layout of the office and that there are better and worse ways to configure one. The first case -- the one I hated -- had a) long rows of desks, b) bright overhead fluorescent lights, c) a lot of noise due to being in a large ro…
In regard to [1] your hypothesis is probably correct. There exists technology that dims the lights automatically when the volume level of an area is too loud, in order to make people lower their voices.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#64Automattic. But it's remote, you have to supply your own office. They contribute $250 toward co-working space.
Just toward co-working space? I wouldn't have thought those deciding to work at home (i.e. giving space in their home to their work) need the contribution any less.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
I work in a team. The team of 5-10 people sit in the same office. That way we can talk to each other when needed. Some say that's disturbance, I call it collaborating. I'm not a code monkey. I don't sit alone in an office all day hammering out code. If that was what expected of me, I would change job. So, not exactly open floor plan, but not separate offices either. I think that's perfect.
Same. I'm a huge fan of a team having its own 'alcove' or bullpen as we all are usually tackling a problem together or triaging something.
Agreed, as long as managers, business, or generally people who talk a lot weren't stationed there. And other people coming for discussion or just to chat weren't allowed either unless it involved the entire team.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#66On the general question of open vs. private offices, my views have tempered over time. The first time I worked in an open office, I hated it. But I've come to realize that a lot depends on the layout of the office and that there are better and worse ways to configure one. The first case -- the one I hated -- had a) long rows of desks, b) bright overhead fluorescent lights, c) a lot of noise due to being in a large ro…
I work in a team. The team of 5-10 people sit in the same office. That way we can talk to each other when needed. Some say that's disturbance, I call it collaborating. I'm not a code monkey. I don't sit alone in an office all day hammering out code. If that was what expected of me, I would change job. So, not exactly open floor plan, but not separate offices either. I think that's perfect.
I'm currently in a small office with a small team. They hate talking. They want to do everything by chat or code review.
My point? So many factors are at play for a healthy office.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#67That's why programmers should work remotely. It's the best thing I've ever done for my career. Moved back from Management to IC because it was remote and it's been amazing.
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#68Microsoft is switching from offices to open office plans. Buildings with offices are slowly being remodeled to open plan. My first team started off two-to-an-office (unless you had something like 5 or 6 years of seniority, in which case you'd get your own office), but they moved to open offices when their building got remodeled.
I'm hearing that things are moving in that direction as well. Were there reasons provided or were you asked for your preference at all?
I was invited to an employee feedback session at Microsoft. We were asked to discuss teamwork and collaboration and float any ideas we had for changes that could be made to improve them. There were plenty of ideas, none of them involved open offices. Strangely, the consultants running the session used "different workspaces" as an example several times. After it showed up on the slides for the fourth time, I brought up the rumours about moving to open offices and said I thought it would harm productivity and wouldn't have a noticable effect on collaboration. Private offices with whiteboards and enough space for 3-4 people to stand and talk are fantastic for collaboration as-is. Several other attendees voiced their agreement. I don't recall anyone advocating for open offices. When the session ended I suggested to the senior Microsoft representative there that a survey be conducted to gauge engineer's preferences on work spaces. He said those decisions weren't in his hands (almost certainly true). I never did get such a survey.
The open offices that I did see at Microsoft were actually pretty nice - they were discrete spaces with room for ~25 desks and 2-3 meeting rooms attached. Certainly better than the spaces I've seen at startups, but still not close to individual offices in terms of pleasantness.
As for a reason, I suspect it's the same reason they unified dev and test into a single discipline. "Because that's what Facebook does."
Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#69Re: Ask HN: Which companies give programmers offices?
#70On the general question of open vs. private offices, my views have tempered over time. The first time I worked in an open office, I hated it. But I've come to realize that a lot depends on the layout of the office and that there are better and worse ways to configure one. The first case -- the one I hated -- had a) long rows of desks, b) bright overhead fluorescent lights, c) a lot of noise due to being in a large ro…
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