Working Cubicle vs. Open Office Layout: Which is Better?

Published August 30, 2021

Many people usually think that an employee’s workplace is a large office specially designed just for them with one desk and a computer. Although that is every employee’s dream, their reality is either a working cubicle or an open office layout. 

Working cubicles and open office layouts are the common workspaces that companies provide. Working cubicles may give employees more privacy than open workspaces, but open office layouts tend to boost teamwork among the employees. Both workspaces have their own pros and cons; you should consider determining which layout is suitable for your business. Reach out to your employees or team to know their preferences when it comes to their workspace.

How Does Workspace Affect Employees?

Employees work for almost 8-10 hours a day at their designated office space. Therefore, their workspace can have a huge impact on their mental health since they spend most of their time at work. Imagine spending most of your day at a workspace that’s inappropriate and uncomfortable for you and your colleagues. The job will seem more draining, and your employees will tend to be burnt out. So, having the proper workspace and modern office furniture for your employees can gradually boost their performance and well-being. 

Furthermore, workspaces along with the office environment’s ambiance affect employees differently. Employees who are outgoing and extroverts would be more comfortable with open workspaces since they like having the presence of other people. On the other hand, introverted employees would mostly have a hard time having people around the whole day, so they prefer cubicle workspaces.

Is Open Office Layout for my Business?

The common problem of businesses with open workspaces is that it doesn’t give employees enough privacy. However, open office layouts encourage collaboration and communication effortlessly because there are no barriers within the workspace. 

If your business is arts, design, marketing, and communication-related, the open office layout is definitely suitable for your business. Since these industries likely need employees to coordinate and brainstorm with one another.

Companies That Can Benefit from Open Office Layouts:

Many companies usually prefer open workspaces to promote better collaborative ideas, which are beneficial for communication and art-related jobs. Companies that are most likely suitable with open office layout are:

• think tanks
• nonprofits
• marketing firms
• advertising agencies
• architecture firms
• software development company
• public relations firms

Pros and Cons of an Open Office Layout 

Pros of an Open Office Layout:

• Communication — Having no barriers in the workspace makes team members in your office more accessible to one another.
• Flexibility — The design or layout of the office can be easily changed when needed.
• Cheap — Buying large desks for your employees costs way cheaper than purchasing individual working cubicles. 
• Looks Appealing — Open office designs give the office a fresh and trendy look that is pleasing to many people. 

Cons of an Open Office Layout:

• Distractions — Employees tend to be easily distracted because open workspaces can be noisy, and they might see different kinds of distractions.
• Lack of Privacy — Open workspaces can make employees — especially introverts — feel uncomfortable with their work because of not having enough privacy.
• Anxiety and Stress — Being seen by many people while working every day can be stressful and cause anxiety.

Is Working Cubicles for my Business?

Although many companies use open office layouts for their business offices, there are still companies that prefer cubicle environments. They may be pricier, but they influence the employee to be much more productive and they are the best storage solutions. In addition, cubicles give the employees the privacy that open workspaces don’t provide. Working cubicles can also minimize the noises and block off distractions which can help employees focus on their job.

Industries like law firms, banks, or anything legal prefer an office’s cubicles for their workspace to ensure that the privacy and data of their customers will be kept confidential.

Companies That Can Benefit from Working Cubicles:

Some companies prefer to use working cubicles for their business especially when privacy is necessary for their industry. Most of these fields are legal or money-related. These businesses would most likely have working cubicles in their workspace:

• accounting firms
• law firms
• banks
• tax preparation businesses
• payday lenders
• private offices

Pros And Cons of Working Cubicles

Pros of using Working Cubicles:

• Privacy —  Cubicles office-type give the privacy that an open workspace can’t provide.
• No Distractions — With the help of the cubicles’ walls, you won’t see and hear many distractions and noises.
• Reduces Germ Exposure — Cubicles can be helpful when it comes to not spreading viruses throughout the office.

Cons of using Working Cubicles:

• Less Communication — With the walls from the cubicle, it will be harder to for workers in cubicles to communicate.
• Expensive — Buying working cubicles are far more costly than using an open office layout.