Having been a cube dweller for 24 years now, I can say it's a love-hate relationship. I like the privacy that comes from the surrounding walls, but I hate having my back to the open area. The new office in Sunny O affords me a window view, open on two sides, but it's fairly pleasant as I'm at the end of a row. This is a "perk" given to the old-timers--when they first herded everyone in, you can only imagine the outrage when contractors were given some of the window seats.
There was one occasion back in St. Louis when the company contracted with a firm to "revolutionize" the setup. The prez hated the full size walls, so this company came back with what I can only describe as the "open square" concept, minimizing personal space and privacy so that "teamwork" would be promoted. They proudly showed off their design, only to get sent down in flames when someone asked, "Where do we hang our coats?"
I'd much prefer to telecommute, but having gone to all that trouble to get me up to Sunny O, the company refuses to allow that sort of subversive activity. Especially from two states away.
I have an office. An honest to god, full sized office. With a door. That isn't closed too often, but I have one.
But, really most of the time, I'm either in my truck (mobile office) or just outside. If there is just one thing that I love about my job (and there are actually more than one), it's that I never, ever will have to work in a cube farm. I've visited such insanity-creating offices in government building and when visiting some friends at work who are in IT, and I get depressed just looking at them.
I mostly like my cube. Sure, it's grey and dingy and dusty because we use contract cleaners who can't vacuum an M&M off the floor, let alone clean fabric surfaces, but it gives me a place to get away from my coworkers and I can decorate it any way I please. I'd be utterly miserable if they did away with cubes and went back to rows and rows of desks.
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yendi![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-09 10:47 pm (UTC)There was one occasion back in St. Louis when the company contracted with a firm to "revolutionize" the setup. The prez hated the full size walls, so this company came back with what I can only describe as the "open square" concept, minimizing personal space and privacy so that "teamwork" would be promoted. They proudly showed off their design, only to get sent down in flames when someone asked, "Where do we hang our coats?"
I'd much prefer to telecommute, but having gone to all that trouble to get me up to Sunny O, the company refuses to allow that sort of subversive activity. Especially from two states away.
JSM
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-09 11:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-10 12:02 am (UTC)But, really most of the time, I'm either in my truck (mobile office) or just outside. If there is just one thing that I love about my job (and there are actually more than one), it's that I never, ever will have to work in a cube farm. I've visited such insanity-creating offices in government building and when visiting some friends at work who are in IT, and I get depressed just looking at them.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-03-10 11:32 am (UTC)