Workplace Culture and Privacy Part 1
Have you read the latest 360 research paper from Steelcase about “Defining the Code” of workplace culture? It provides some interesting insights into how organizations will have to change their thinking if they want to do business in a truly global marketplace. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge that people speak different languages. You need to take into account how everything from body language to work styles and interactions between employees differ across cultures. Then, you need to design the built work environment and select your office furniture accordingly.
Steelcase based its research on visits to 100 workplaces in 11 countries and distilled their data using the concept of six dimensions of workplace culture. You’ll need to visit Steelcase to uncover the details about each dimension. But we thought we’d continue the conversation here by considering how cultural differences might affect how employers use cubicle extenders or desk-mounted privacy panels. Here’s the first dimension and our take on it:
Power Distance Index (PDI)
Basically, this refers to top-down organizational authority (autocratic) vs. everyone having a “voice” in how things are done at work (consultative). We actually see the full spectrum PDI here in the US, so it’s not impossible that our readers have worked in both types of organization at some point.
The more autocratic workplaces are likely to be those that still have private offices for top employees. This work culture doesn’t necessarily place a high value on the whole collaborative meme that is sweeping the nation. They support teamwork, but don’t rely on their rank and file employees to innovate. They place a high value on productivity and effectiveness. So, they are quite likely to have cubicles rather than an open office design with no panels. This is a location where the judicious use of panel extenders to increase cubicle wall height could give employees an even greater ability to focus.
The consultative style workplace is much more likely to have managers and other high level employees working out in the open as part of a team. The desk or benching style of office furniture tends to be quite popular here. However, things can get a little chaotic when everyone is having a conversation at once. While brainstorming can be fun, it can be distracting too. Adding privacy panels at the edges of a “cluster” of workers might help them become more cohesive and provide a bit of a break from the fishbowl style office where everyone can see everyone else all the time. Or, individual workers who request more privacy and those who have tasks that require more “heads down” time might like panels mounted on their desks.
Herman Miller’s new white paper “
This manufacturer provides peel and stick decals that you can install directly on the cubicle panel. Employees could select mountains, forests, beaches, hayfields, and more.
If you want a more true-to-life tactile experience, this option’s got you covered with its real wooden window frame. Employees also get versatility built in since each frame comes with four different “views” printed on heavy duty cardstock. They can switch out the view every day if that’s what it takes to stave off ennui. The main drawback is the size. With an opening less than 12×14 in this tiny window, workers may feel like their cubicle is even smaller than before.
You know we have a solution for this too – and it’s actually available for either desk mounted panels or panel extenders. We can custom print panels to transport your employees to anywhere they’d like to go. They can gaze at lovely green grass, a pathway strewn with autumn leaves, or the crystal blue depths of a tropical ocean. Unlike wall stickers or cardstock, these panels can easily last for decades. You can install them on one side or all 3 sides of a workstation if you want to create a complete environment of calm. They are also very easy to remove if you decide to switch them out or move them to a different workstation.
How many times over the last 15 years have you read an article about the imminent “Death of the cubicle”? It’s a meme that keeps cropping up over and over regardless of how often it is proven wrong. There’s another article up on 
With the holidays coming up, you’re probably thinking about what gift to offer your employees for all their hard work. Gift cards for major retailers are OK (as we’ll discuss below), but they’re pretty generic. Foodstuffs from candy and cookies to a Christmas turkey may seem like crowd pleasers, but employees with dietary restrictions from gluten intolerance and diabetes to vegetarianism would feel left out. A cash bonus is always appreciated. But then you might feel pressured to match or exceed that amount each year – even when economic circumstances change. Key chains, coffee mugs and other tchotchkes don’t express how much you value your workers (unless you think they’re basically worthless).
Office design experts just keep coming up with all kinds of reasons why open office design is good for business. This thinking is alive and well in spite of all the studies showing that reduced workplace privacy and increased noise levels send 
The coffee shop gets a lot of press for being the “go to” location for off-site work. But there’s another community gathering place that might actually serve as a better model: the local library. It makes a lot of sense when you think about it. There’s a lounge area for socializing and a private corner for work that requires more focus. Of course, the ways in which an ideal workplace should resemble a library go beyond these basics. For example, a well equipped library has the equivalent of: