Category : workplace privacy

Tired of Noisy Colleagues in the Office? Try These 5 Tips

21 October 2015Mark Canavarronoisy office, office design, workplace aesthetics, workplace culture, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

One of the most common things that people say when asked about their work at the office is, “I love my job, but I hate my noisy coworkers.” Whether in one’s own personal cubicle space, or in an open space office environment, rowdy project teams will get out of hand, or that click of employees that chatter more than they work, will start to encroach upon the sanctity of your workspace; sometimes even when they are across the room. Nobody likes a tattletale, nor the ongoing animosity or negative consequences that out-of-hand confrontations can cause in the workplace. It is better to take a subtler and more thought-out approach to handling the problem, by trying the 5 useful tips listed below.

1. Noisy Coworker Canceling Headphones

One of the most popular remedies for rude, noisy coworkers, who don’t seem to understand that other people are trying to work at the office, is noise canceling headphones. The headphones will also act as a visual deterrent to interrupting you at your desk. That “Chatty-Kathy,” who always b-lines to your desk just to shoot the breeze, will now have to have something important to say to you, especially if they want you to stop and take your headphones off.

Headphones have an air of focused concentration to them when one is tuned out to the office noise, and intently tuned into their work. For those who like to work to music, calm, soothing tunes are always a sure fire way to block out loud and inconsiderate blockheads. Big headphones have a psychological factor of letting people know you are busy. This is why small ear buds are not as effective. People are more likely to expect you to still be able to hear them through earbuds, defeating the purpose.

2. Avoid Public Confrontation

Go up to the coworker when they are alone, and politely ask them to please tone down the excessive noise. If you confront them in front of other coworkers, you risk causing an ongoing feud over the situation. Public confrontation will encourage other workers to weigh in on one side or another, causing a rift in the workplace. On the other hand, if your noise concerns fall on deaf ears, search out other working colleagues with like-minded concerns about the negative effect that the unnecessary noise has on office productivity, and then confront the offending employee as a group; as somewhat of a workplace intervention. This should be used only as a last resort though.

3. Find Quiet Refuge

Whether working in an old-school cubicle set-up, or a contemporary open office space, there is usually an open conference room, or in most open space workplaces, a designated quiet room. If your supervisor or another coworker asks you why you are working there rather than your desk, then you can simply be honest. Since they opened up the proverbial door, you can then tell them about your problem with the noise factor in the office without looking like the office snitch. This way there is no reason to have to awkwardly point fingers or name names. This solution may be inconvenient at times, working away from your desk, but it could be a productive godsend as well if put in the right perspective.

4. Be Discreet when Telling a Manager

There is a less confrontational way to tell a manager about a complaint concerning other coworkers. You can discreetly tell your superior about your noise concerns, without having to throw a coworker under the bus. Remind the manager how non-productive excessive noise can make not just you, but the whole office unproductive. This will up the issue and force the manager to actually do something, especially when low employee production will also negatively affect their standing with their superiors. Suggest that the manager sends an open letter to the whole office addressing the problem of excessive noise in the workplace. This will make your problem solving skills look good in your bosses’ eyes, and hopefully open up the eyes of the main offenders who can’t seem to tone-it-down.

5. Last Resort Relocation

People have different noise thresholds in the office, some people need the hustle and bustle of the office with a noisy talkative background in order to work properly. Others are just the opposite. They need a quiet, serene atmosphere in order to concentrate on their work. Most offices have areas that are quieter than others, and a move to that section, if it is feasible and permissible by management, might be the only option left. Once again, this is a situation where being totally honest will work to your advantage. You can state the other lengths you have gone through in order to try and fix the problem. Most employers will be understanding in this situation, and at least know that you are trying to be a team player about the noise problem.

Your workplace productivity is what pays the bills, gets you noticed by management, and gets you promoted. This is why it is important to take excessive noise at the office seriously, especially when it distracts you from doing your job properly. Workplace loudmouths will always be an irritating factor that everybody will have to deal with at some point or another at the office. Following the tips above will give you the advantage you need in order to shut down those rowdy office clicks, and muffle those irritatingly distracting coworkers that just won’t cop-a-clue and shut the heck up!

Alternatively, you can add inexpensive office panels to your existing furniture to increase workplace privacy. Click here to read more.

Hard Time Focusing at Work? Try These 3 Tips

7 October 2015Mark Canavarronoisy office, workplace aesthetics, workplace culture, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

1. Shut Down Distractions.

According to USA Today, nearly 50 percent of American employees say that they work for only 15 minutes before becoming distracted, and that 20 something year-olds are the most likely to be distracted at the workplace. This can be directly linked to the modern age of e-mail dependency, social media hysteria, and both generations Y and Z’s refusals to put down their smartphones. All these personal digital age workplace distractions will only stop interrupting us if we take drastic measures – We need to knuckle down and go cold turkey by turning digital distractions off at work.

Some might say, “But what if something terrible happens at home and I miss it?” No boss is going to fire someone for getting a landline call at work for a “real” emergency. Work offline if the internet is not required. Remove that temptation to check out what your friends are posting on Facebook, or take a quick peak at that mountain of email that is mostly just spam anyway. Turn off that cell phone, and rejoice in no longer having to answer those outside calls that truly could have waited. Workplace distractions are nearly always man made. They can also be easily made to go away with just the push of a button, unlike that distracting coworker that never leaves you alone.

2. Keep it Clean.

Clean it up! Keep it clean, and one will find a whole new world that has been swept clear of numerous built up distractions. The only thing one usually needs to work efficiently at their desk, is their PC or laptop, a working file, and a safely enclosed drink in order to have a productive work zone. Take time to organize, categorize, and label proper destination spots for all of those daily papers that add up. IE: Reminders, contact information, files, etc., and keep them off the top of your desk and where they belong. This will ensure that the time consuming distraction and aggravation of clutter will be permanently removed from your daily working routine.

Everyone should take some time out for the important pertinent little details at their workspace; this will help ensure it stays smooth flowing and productive. Just like if someone was trying to find something in a cluttered, dirty house, a cluttered, dirty desk is just as difficult to try and accomplish something with. All those seemingly helpful notes everywhere – That snack packet from yesterday that is taking up valuable real-estate on the desk – Those multiple photos of people’s families, their vacations, their dogs; all add up to potential distractions that make people lose focus at work.

3. Micro – break.

Studies have shown that micro-breaks help calm anxiety, and that they enhance one’s problem solving skills. Micro-breaks are little 1 to 3 minute breaks that are taken at least every hour. Micro-breaks are much more effective than taking a few long breaks every several hours. Using one’s brain all day without letting it rest properly allows the brain to grow weary, causing a person to lose focus. This continues to worsen until the brain gets the rest it needs. The longer that rest is prolonged, the longer time it will need to recover.

That old nose-to-the-grindstone mentality of the work gets done first, and then we take a break, has actually been proven to hinder one’s abilities to work properly, rather than increase productivity in the workplace. Break up the monotony of office work; take little mini-breaks after or during a productive work session. They allow the brain to rest, regroup, and start fresh again. This allows one to be focused and on-track with the task at hand when they come back. The practice of taking mini-breaks helps to combat brain fatigue, which is like hitting a mental brick wall when trying to concentrate on a long or complicated project.

Of course, there are many other different variations of distractions around the office. They are bound to pop up eventually. Turn off the e-mails, remove the temptation of social media or game sites on the internet, halt personal calls, tone up the work-desk with a quick cleaning, so that it’s actually conducive to work, and take a few minutes of time out in order to give the brain that short break it needs to function properly. These simple tips will all add up to a less distracting, enjoyable, and noticeably more productive working environment.

Alternatively, you can add inexpensive office panels to your existing furniture to increase workplace privacy. Click here to read more.

5 Ways Privacy Panels Can Increase Employee Productivity

2 September 2015Mark Canavarrocubicle extenders, desk-mounted panels, noisy office, office design, office furniture, open office design, panel extenders, privacy screens, workplace aesthetics, workplace culture, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

New techniques, tools, and methods for boosting employee productivity are being discussed, argued, and decided on every day. One tool in particular is being hailed as an effective method of helping employees avoid distractions, feel more comfortable in their work environment, and work harder – producing work that is fast, efficient, and quality. The tool in question is privacy panels; compact and often stylish boards that make each individual desk into a working office without the impersonal look of a cubicle.

Here are five ways that privacy panels can make employees work harder, work better, and work happier:

1. Less Visual Distraction

No matter your working style, the human mind is designed to pick up and respond to movement in our area, even if it has nothing to do with you. Some argue this is an engrained cultural habit brought on by many flashy billboards, colorful screens, and constant entertainment, while others say it is a primal trait designed to keep us alert to predators or nearby danger. No matter the origin of this habit, as a worker, you’ll naturally be distracted by a coworker rising to copy a paper, retrieve a cup of coffee, or signal to another coworker. Although there’s very little entertainment value in these visual distractions and your coworker is probably not a tiger is disguise, trying to keep your attention on your work with these little disruptions is difficult.

The quality and speed of your work production relies on your ability to focus and build momentum, completing more tasks at a faster rate. By installing privacy panels around your desk, you are able to block out these little things catching the corners of your eyes and focus solely on your working tasks. This will boost productivity as well as the quality of work you can create.

2. Less Noise Distraction

While privacy panels mainly serve as a visual block, they also block a certain amount of sound. Although you won’t be spared the noise of a coworker shouting across the office to signal another employee, the small clicking of fellow keyboards, your coworker gathering together their paperwork, or the shifting of chairs on the floor will be canceled out. So if a coworker seems to be taking out their passive aggression on their innocent keyboard one annoying clank at a time, a privacy panel can dull this distraction – if not eliminate it entirely. This may seem like a small advantage, but your ability to block out all forms of distraction to focus your mind on your work will make a significant different in your productivity.

3. A Sense of Privacy

Privacy panels serve to seclude you and your desk away from the rest of the office, and by doing so, make you feel secluded in your personal area. With this new solitude, you can focus on your tasks and complete projects, knowing that there will not be a curious coworker glancing over at your computer screen or a bored intern wanting to watch you work.

Additionally, privacy panels serve as a visual barrier between you and your coworkers, encouraging them to leave you to your work, rather than disturb you. You are less likely to enter your boss’s office if the door is shut, and this same instinct will be placed on fellow coworkers with the panel’s advantage. When you settle down at your desk for the day, having this block tells them that you’re not to be disturbed. This can prevent a bored employee from deciding to stop by for a chat when you have a deadline, or a well-meaning coworker interrupting you with matters that could be handled at another time. This allows you to focus for longer periods and complete more.

With this peace of mind of knowing you have reliable privacy, you can shut off that portion of your mind that expects to be distracted at any moment. This reserve — similar to the mental trait that makes your eyes sharp to catch sight of a stalking tiger — ends up becoming a distraction of its own, and a privacy panel eliminates the issue.

4. Customized Work Space

Privacy panels, though minimal, serve as a set of walls between you and your coworker’s office space – creating a small and efficient “office” of your own. With this new privacy and sense of ownership, you can feel free to add personal decorations to your area without fear of disturbing other workers. These personal touches are known for boosting productivity, as they make workers feel more comfortable in their space; this confidence allows them to think creativity and concentrate on their work. These decorations can vary from family photos on their desk to large cat posters on the panels to a range of hanging lights or trinkets.

This also serves the rest of the office, as these little accessories are hidden from view and do not provide distraction for other workers. Perhaps your coworker has that trademark “Hang in There,” cat poster that grates on your nerves; there’s no need to suffer the sight of that every work day. Each employee will have the ability to customize their own personal office space, and not be distracted by each other’s additions.

5. Wall Space

Privacy panels, in addition to serving as stand-in walls for customization, can also serve as wall space for work-enhancing objects. You can place corkboards on the panels to schedule out the day’s work or place important reminders, or charts which gauge the progress and tasks of a recent project. Additionally, the barrier allows employees to place file cabinets near their desks without degrading the look or style of the office as a whole. Then they can store important files, objects, and tools to continue their work without having to pause and retrieve these items from another location.

This simple addition to any office space can make an employee’s work day more productive and far more enjoyable, benefitting the business and the workforce combined.

Consider a Table Mount to Increase Productivity in Your Office

20 May 2015Mark Canavarrocubicle extenders, desk-mounted panels, noisy office, workplace culture, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

This would be a perfect reason to consider installing a table mount in your office space, or several table mounts, if the area calls for it. Some office spaces are certainly larger than others. There are many benefits to adding table mounts, some of which have already been mentioned. In addition, it is a known fact that when people are working in close quarters, they are going to either become very close friends; or they are going to clash. Either way, it doesn’t make for a good office situation, and in turn, decreases overall productivity. If you become friends with the person you are confined with, there will typically be random conversations that have no business entering the office. It may be talk of what happened last night or what shows are all the rage this season. On the other hand, if you clash; then every little detail that’s overheard could be a cause for scrutiny. What’s worse, this could end up costing one or both of your jobs.

If you feel like us here at OBEX, and you know what great things could come from installing table mounts in your office; contact us for more information. We will be happy to assist you with making your office more productive.

The Top 5 Causes of Poor Work Performance

13 May 2015Mark Canavarrocubicle extenders, desk-mounted panels, noisy office, office furniture, open office design, privacy screens, workplace culture, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

While the definition of poor work performance changes, the causes of the performance gap seem to be universal no matter the industry, company, job description, or typical group of people. Some causal factors of low or high performance are employee – centric issues and others are organization issues. These tend to overlap. Most issues are influenced by both the employee and the organization. For example, if Employee A’s manager asks him why he has only been averaging seventy – five phone calls per hour, he could hear one or both of the following reasons:

Example #1: “I am distracted because my wife is due to have a baby. Every time I hear a phone ring I think it is her calling to tell me that she is going to the hospital.”

Example #2: “My coworkers are bothering me. The one on my left keeps laughing really loud and the one on my right asks me a question every few minutes. I can’t concentrate on my own calls with all of these interruptions.”

The first example is an employee issue. His life at home is leaking into his life at work. In other words his work / life balance is off. The organization can do little to help him. He is in control of how distracted he is or is not. Example #2 is an organization issue. Because of the way the office set up its employees right next to each other, and because of the managers’ ineffectiveness to keep his coworkers quiet and train the rookies, he is distracted by factors he can’t control. Because companies have little to no influence on what is happening in the employees’ life that might cause disruptions, they have to focus on the organization’s factors. Below are the top five causes of poor work performance, specifically ones that companies can cause or allow to happen, and therefore they are the ones that can be fixed.

Lack of sound privacy. Every worker is unique. Employee A might be productive when there is loud music in the background. That same music might be distracting and annoying to Employee B. Employee A could train himself to hear his coworkers conversations as simple white noise in the background while Employee B can’t help but listen intently to whatever is being said. Additional noises such as tapping on computer keyboards and squeaking chairs are also big distractions. This cause can be fixed with additional partitions and noise-cancelling headphones.

Lack of visual privacy. No employees have reported that they like it when someone is looking over their shoulder. Those who have their desks set up right in their manager’s line of sight say that adds additional, unnecessary stress. Managers typically think that their presence makes employees more productive but the result is the exact opposite. Workers are less likely to play online games and surf social media sites when someone can easily see them, but studies show that does not improve work performance.

Lack of personal space / Overcrowding. Open office models typically put four to ten people around one table. They each have their own chair, their own computer, and their own basic office supplies like pens, but nothing else belongs to them. They are literally bumping elbows and they do not have the opportunity to make the space their own. No pictures of their kids and their pets, no calendar with quotes from their favorite comedian or politicians, and no jar of their favorite candy. When an employee feels “at home” at work, he works better. Companies need to give employees the opportunity to personalize their space.

Inability to control the environment. An employee who is shivering because he is cold, or sweating because he is hot, is an ineffective worker. The same employees need to be able to adjust the curtains or shades on the windows when the sun is getting in their eyes. He needs a chair that can be adjusted up and down, left and right, and is not different the next day because someone else sat in it after he did.

Second – guessing, or excessive mistakes due to poor training. A company’s first priority should be making sure that their employees are well trained. That way they will not be interrupting each other with questions, or doing their own work slowly because they are struggling to remember what to do next or how to do it.

In order to get ideal work from their employees, businesses must create the ideal work environments. This goes beyond ensuring occupational health and safety. It goes beyond making sure that the workplace is clean, beyond having water fountains and bathrooms that work, and beyond managerial accountability. With so little influence over an employee’s ability to balance work and life, work must be the focus. Recently big name companies like Google, Facebook, and Square have been praising the open office model. In order to improve managerial accessibility, transparency, and employees’ opportunities to collaborate, their workspaces have done away with enclosed offices and individual cubicles. They have literally taken the walls down between their employees.

Those same employees agree across the board that the open office model does get them more face – time with their coworkers. However, they also report the following negative consequences of it: lack of sound privacy, lack of visual privacy, overcrowded workspaces and an inability to control their personal space / environment. Only twenty five percent, that is one in four workers in the United States, say that they work in the ideal environment for peak job performance. The causes of poor work performance are not a problem for that twenty percent because they have sound privacy, visual privacy, and their workspaces are not overcrowded. Companies must prioritize and invest in creating these ideal environments not only for their employees but for the business at large.

Using Desk Mounts to Increase Employee Productivity and Privacy

6 May 2015Mark Canavarrodesk-mounted panels, noisy office, office design, privacy screens, workplace distractions, workplace privacycubicle furniture, desk mounts, office furniture No comment

In 1967, two designers, Robert Propst and Herman Miller ventured to improve the privacy and lower the buzzing level of confusing distraction that office workers had been living with. They invented what they called, the “action office.” Recognizing that people are more productive working within their own territorial enclave that they can personalize, the inventers found a way of making walls around desks to provide flexible mini-office spaces.

Propst’s concept was to structure desk space with two or three-sided vertical divisions that defined a territory and provided walls for privacy and without hindering the ability of workers to view and participate with others. These walls were are also entirely flexible and adaptable allowing for multipurpose use. The idea of the “action office” was nearly universally adopted by 2005.

The desk mount allows offices to construct privacy spaces around the structure of individual desks flexibly and without damaging the furniture itself. Desk mounted privacy panels easily attach to the desks themselves using special mounts. They come in a variety of custom colors, frames and fabrics to enhance and match any office décor. The desk mount system quickly transforms open office designs into mini-office space which a person can call their own.

The carrel structure afforded by these desk-mounted panels also provides privacy for study in libraries or special classrooms or test-taking environments. Recent studies have shown that students with certain forms of learning disability function much better within structures defined by carrel spaces that cut off peripheral distraction.

This year marks 45 years since the invention of the “action office.” The concept has revolutionized the work environment of millions of busy offices. OBEX desk mounted panels can improve any open office environment. Please contact us to explore the options we offer.

Cubicle Extenders Save You Time and Money in Restructuring Your Office

29 April 2015Mark Canavarropanel extenders, privacy screens, workplace privacy No comment

Here at OBEX, we provide excellent products in this area, which help executives reshape their cubicles and desks without shuffling things around. We know how much offices often need restructuring in order to accommodate growth or when new employees are added to the payroll. We’ve experienced this firsthand as we’ve grown our own company.

Our cubicle extenders have a design with ease of use in mind, as well as easy installation. With simple placement on existing cubicles using an Allen wrench and screws, you can install our extenders in a matter of minutes. By doing this, you can divide up an existing cubicle into separate quarters without being obstructive or giving any feeling of claustrophobia.

Saving You Time, and Providing Comfort

When you need maximize all the time you can get out of a work day, you don’t want an office space redesign for new employees you need in your staff. By using our cubicle extenders, you save time and money. Office restructuring usually takes an entire day, which means a huge financial money loss just for moving desks around.

Using our extenders, they’re ready to use out of the box. At the same time, they provide privacy, yet leave enough room so employees can see light from nearby windows. While this depends on the layout of your office, you have plenty of customization for height and width on our extenders.

Contact us here at OBEX to find out more about our extenders and similar products. Don’t let an office restructure get in the way, while still providing perfect working quarters for the new hires.

Reinvent Your Office Space with OBEX

22 April 2015Mark Canavarrodesk-mounted panels, panel extenders, privacy screens, workplace privacyCubicle panel mounts, desk mounts, table mounts No comment

When Robert Propst developed the concept of the cubicle, he had specific ideas for the perfect office space:

“Conceived as an alternative to open workrooms that lacked privacy or personality, its modular elements could be customized to accommodate employees’ changing needs. “Action Office,” as the cubicle and its components were officially called, was the invention of Robert Propst, a brilliant artist/inventor.”

You can reclaim the freedom and productivity dreamed by the inventor of the cubicle with all the benefits of 21st century style with the help of OBEX. Redesigning and customizing your office does not have to be a costly endeavor with tons of new furniture. Here are ways to keep your office looking professional and functioning well for each employee:

Desk and table mounts: Turn any desk or table into a cubicle easily and efficiently with pieces that mount directly on your existing furniture. We offer different sizes, so you can create the space you need, whether you need the extra height to clip a lamp to increase desktop space or need an extra sound barrier to reduce noise levels for phone calls.
Cubicle panel mounts: If you already have some cubicle dividers, you can customize your office space with panel mounts. You can get the extra height you need, as well as add to the decor. We offer a variety of styles and colors, so you will be able to create the perfect functional and fashionable office space.

If you are ready to reinvent your office space, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Increase Your Employees’ Productivity by Increasing Their Privacy!

29 January 2015Mark Canavarronoisy office, workplace distractions, workplace privacy No comment

study by Harvard, “employees figure out the quickest ways to get things done… [by being] able to identify the sorts of shortcuts and workarounds that boost productivity.” The problem arises when employees don’t get any privacy to work in – so “when managers [constantly] watch their workers work, employee productivity dips [because] employees feel more compelled… [to] follow all corporate policies to a T,” even when they’re inefficient.

The study showcases real life examples of coworkers in manufacturing plants who utilize little strategies and tricks, here and there, which exponentially boost overall productivity. However, whenever management came around, they stopped using these shortcuts – seemingly resulting in the study drawing the correlation between productivity decrease and management observation. Astonishingly, the study found that when companies “kept a curtain up between workers and managers, productivity increased by 10 to 15 percent.”

Increasing cubicle privacy isn’t just about giving employees a breather from administrators – it also gives them a break from coworkers! According to another article, coworker noise – such as telephone calls, frustrated blurts, and etc. – has caused “30% of workers in cubicles, and roughly 25% in partition-less offices, [to be] dissatisfied with the noise level of their workspaces.”

Have no fear, OBEX is here! We offer cubicle panel extenders, mounts, and all sorts of supporting materials to increase the privacy of your employees’ workspace. Increase your employee productivity and contact us today!

The Advantages Of Using Modesty Panels In An Office Setting

3 December 2014Mark Canavarroworkplace privacy No comment

Modesty panels allow you to transform your workplace. Panels can be added to create a separation between desks and provide each employee with their own space. Adding modesty panels to a workplace can be an alternative to cubicles and transform an open space into a workplace with a spot for each employee.

Modesty panels can be added on top of existing panels or placed on a desk or table to create separate spaces. Panels come in a wide variety of colors and materials. Adding modesty panels to your workplace does not have to make things dull since you can choose panels with lively colors or prints.

Investing in panels allows for more flexibility than installing cubicles in your workplace. Modesty panels can be easily removed and re-arranged as your needs change. Investing in sturdy panels is definitely worth it since these items will last for years as you re-arrange your workplace.

The main advantage of modesty panels is to provide employees with more privacy. People will probably feel more comfortable and relaxed at work if they do not get the feeling that their desk and activities are visible to everyone.

Providing employees with their own workstation isolated with modesty panels will help them concentrate. Productivity should go up if employees are not tempted to keep an eye on what someone else is doing. Modesty panels are also an excellent way to reduce the noise levels employees are exposed to.

Giving each employee their own work space should help them stay organized. They will consider their work station as their own space and develop their own system to organize documents and items.

Modesty panels are a great place to pin important papers and reminders. They also provide employees with a space where they can pin family pictures and other personal items. This is a great way to help employees feel more at home without giving them their own cubicle or office.

OBEX can provide you with modesty panels and other furniture for your workplace. Contact us to learn more about the different options available to you.