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Google was founded 25 years ago today

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Re: Google was founded 25 years ago today

#231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There were certainly some bare-bones companies earlier in my career, but there were also some - Thinking Machines comes readily to mind - that were pretty famous for pampering employees like this. Also, even at the bare-bones companies, people got offices or at least cubes. Of twelve employers in my 30-year career, only two had open offices and less than half of the rest involved sharing with one other. In 2000 I was…

How would you rate it? How does it affect your productivity? Collaboration, any influence? :)

I'll assume you mean offices rather than WFH, since the latter (and its many confounding factors) has been discussed extensively here already. Personally, I was just happier in an office, even if shared with one other. Cubes were second, open plans last, though there were a few times when I appreciated being "in the fray" with everyone else either way. Eliminating the constant sensory assault just makes focus easier, and at the end of the day I could go home with lower cortisol levels. Collaboration was never an issue, as long as there was some space nearby for it and people were willing to use it.

Obviously it can be easier to slack off in an office, or there could be conflict with one's office-mate, and so on, but overall I think offices were worth it. I've also been told by multiple CFOs that the reason for cubes and then for open plans has mostly to do with cost and how various kinds of space are taxed. Every one admitted that the productivity/collaboration claims were just excuses. Which brings us back to WFH vs. RTO, I guess. ;)

Re: Google was founded 25 years ago today

#232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How senior do you have to be generally to get your own bonafide private office?

From what I can tell there isn't any company wide rules. In my building there are directors who sit out in the open, some who have private offices. Some non manager software engineers share offices with one or two people, and some managers share an office with someone. Sounds like if an employee really really wants an office, they can be eligible to share one, but it's not the norm. It's actually pretty quiet though…

I found this even weirder, frankly. Everyone is sitting out there in the open, but it's impolite to talk, and most people have headphones on. Strange vibe to be in a giant room full of people that is basically silent, IMO.
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