Tag : cubicle extenders

There are some very solid financial and practical reasons to consider cubicle panel extenders instead of investing in drywall to create actual walled in office space.

Opting for a cubicle office could mean a significant savings even in offices where cubicle walls are extended as high as shoulder height or head height – even though the upfront cost of the panels might be more than dry-walling, you have several benefits that will make themselves known over time.

• The IRS considers cubicle panels and wall extenders to be furniture which can be depreciated at a much faster rate than an actual office build.
• You automatically have a “movable” office that can be reconfigured as needed, and even shifted to an entirely new location if you end up needing more space – eliminating the need for a full remodel every time you relocate.
• They can be readily outfitted with options for easy electrical and internet cabling, something that is much more complex with drywall installation.
• They can be quickly removed if needed to provide a more open area for a group or team effort, and refitted when needed so key workers have a quiet, private area to complete serious tasks.
• Even with cubicles that have panel extenders nearly to the ceiling, there isn’t the completely closed in feeling you get with a traditional drywall office.

Don’t be scared of trying out a cubicle office. With a wide range of used and refurbished cubicle units on the market, it’s simple and cost effective to outfit a new office with cubicles to see if they work well before investing in the costly endeavor of a complete walling in of offices, and also lets you have some time to ensure that your location was the perfect fit before expending funds in customization.

Research the different cubicle heights and sizes available, and find out if your new office space might benefit from the flexible solution that various options and panel extenders supply – from ease of communication to privacy when needed. It’s a simple, efficient way to organize your available space without committing to a “forever” layout.

The original plan for the cubicle was much different than how it is often implemented today. Robert Propst, the man credited with creating the cubicle, developed his unique Action Office concept in the 1960s. It was a much different model than the modern cubicle floor, with varying cubicle height, extenders if needed, and a departure from the 90 degree grid.

By 1988, he was disillusioned with how his idea was being applied, saying he had hoped that the the concept  “would give knowledge workers a more flexible, fluid environment than the rat-maze box of offices,” and bemoaning the fact that “not all organizations are intelligent and progressive.”

Propsts’ original vision was that cubicles would themselves be fluid, and only part of an office layout plan. Instead, many companies crammed as many identical cubicles as possible into their square footage, and the era of the cube rat began. Where in the past, 80 to 90 percent of an organization’s budget was spent on individual workspaces, the numbers fell abruptly to 65 to 70 percent and today are in the process of scaling down to 50 percent.

The need for exclusive workspace is a given, but an even greater need is a space where workers feel at ease – the design should be good enough that the “anywhere but here” attitude fades away and the office seems just as good a solution as telecommuting from home or a coffee shop. There’s no one size fits all in any other facet of life, why should a workspace be so different?

Thankfully, things like cubicle height extenders, privacy panels, and a designer with a sense of flowable space can help create an office where everyone has as much space as they need, acoustics are dampened enough to allow distraction free working, and each person feels like they have a modicum of privacy without being boxed in.

Using a free flowing mindset and taking into account not only the personalities of every type of worker but also the type of work they do and whether or not they will be expected to collaborate or work alone can help create a cubicle setting that is friendly and comfortable. Cubicle height extenders are a good starting point, but that’s only the beginning!

Thankfully, this guy stayed home.

We’re still talking about workplace peeves. When in a cubicle environment, there can always be that one employee who prides themselves on never missing a day of work – even if that means spreading whatever ghastly illness they have throughout the office. Even the highest cubicle wall extender won’t save you from their germy presence!

You grit your teeth every time they get recognition for their 5, 10, 20 years or more of service with never calling in sick even once, remembering when they gave half the office the flu and how you in particular spent two weeks trying to hack up a lung – and four more weeks nursemaiding everyone in your family back to health.

Of course, it’s hard to skip work when you fear for your job or can’t afford to lose the paycheck. What do you think about your company’s calling in sick policy? Does it encourage people to come to work no matter what?

Do you have a pet peeve when it comes to the workplace? Living in the cubicle world can be difficult at times, with certain co-workers pushing all of your buttons until you feel like screaming. From people popping up in their cubicles when something happens (despite cubicle height extensions) to the guy who insists on dropping by but spends half an hour on his phone in YOUR cubicle, there’s a wide range of annoyances and workplace distractions.

While workplace privacy is one big issue, some of the more common office peeves have more to do with immaturity or thoughtlessness on the part of bosses or co-workers. It could be that they grew up with wolves and never had anyone teach them common courtesy, or it could be a misunderstanding. Whatever the cause, the way to deal with a workplace peeve is to figure out how to approach the person who is making you nuts, address the behavior in a constructive way, and hope you can arrive at a happy outcome.

What’s your office peeve? Let us know what it is and how you dealt with it.

If you are in market for office cubicles, you’ve probably noticed a wide disparity in cubicle height and size. For some office managers, the design of a cubicle shows the level of the person sitting in it – much like the coveted corner office, a large, high walled cubicle could be considered the pinnacle of success.

However, the smart office designer will look at the individual tasks meant to be performed by cubicle dwellers, and create a workspace where cubicle wall height is determined by efficiency, not hierarchy.

Low cubicle walls are typically 42 inches high, which allows co-workers to see and talk to each-other while seated. Rather than seeing this setup as one that is cheap and therefore appropriate for employees who are low on the corporate ladder, look at this type layout as particularly valuable for teams who need open collaboration and a free flow of information and ideas. Spontaneous brainstorming sessions or informal meetings are a snap, and don’t require removal of the team to a conference room.

Medium height cubicles (53 inches high) are standard fare for offices where worker bees sit on the phone all day providing customer service or working sales calls. Employees can still see and communicate with co-workers by simply stand up. The greater modicum of privacy afforded can be attractive if workplace distractions are hindering the quality of customer care. An added benefit of medium height cubicle walls is that it encourages employees to stand up occasionally and stretch their legs while seeking out social interaction.

High walled cubicles (66 inches high) used to be considered a stand in for that corner office – the “luxury suite” reserved for the head honcho. However, not all executives thrive in the more secluded workspace.This type of cubicle might be more suited to the worker who truly needs the isolation and privacy to be productive – the programmer sequencing code, the writer on a deadline, or the sales executive closing the biggest deal in company history.

Stop looking at cubicle height as a way to separate low level employees from executives, and instead focus on productivity. Using cubicle extenders can allow you to alter cubicle height at will, so a changing office demographic can always be best served no matter what kind of work the occupants may be involved in.

An important thing to remember about workstation privacy is that sometimes you can sacrifice too much for a feeling of protected solitude. Using privacy screens and panel extenders can help increase employee focus, but other factors can decrease efficiency if the concept is taken overboard.

For example, in offices with solid cubicle walls and a fixed height, artificial lighting may be the only option. If your building offers opportunities for natural daylight, a revamp of workspaces may be needed to boost employee morale and let them take advantage of real light.

Cubicle height extension panels should be no higher than 42 inches. The maximum amount of daylight can then reach internal areas of the space, and occupants can have a more natural view.

If the loss of privacy that comes with lower wall heights is an issue, consider using   removable cubicle wall extensions that can be used when more privacy is needed. You can also alter the direction in which each worker faces, to create a further feeling of privacy.

How do you incorporate new ideas into your workspace? Share your secrets to a more welcoming cubicle environment in the comments.

A cubicle that isn’t sufficiently sheltered from the bustle and roar of a busy office can lead to increased inefficiency and worker frustration. Using cubicle wall extenders to help dampen the sound of the printer on the other side of the wall or the foot traffic from the corridor can improve employee concentration and decrease the  annoyance levels significantly.

However, cubicles that are too tall and closed in can lead to severe feelings of isolation and even depression. The best route is to carefully analyze the needs of each worker as well as those of their adjoining cubicle dwellers, and create spaces that work for all concerned instead of depending on cookie cutter sameness.  Fortunately, you can make cubicle walls taller in a variety of increments, expanding the possibilities for custom workplace design.

Stair stepping cubicle wall extenders placed as shown above increase quiet and privacy directly in front of the worker, while allowing her to not feel boxed in. The stepped down height of the cubicle wall as it extends behind her and off to her right creates a feeling of open space while still providing privacy and a secluded work station.

Allowing each employee to help “create” their own workplace is simple when using cubicle wall extenders. Does the six foot five employee in the next cubicle keep laughing at someone in the other end of the phone? A taller height extension can help block him out. Do two employees seated opposite each other have to keep running around the corner to consult? Choose a lower cubicle wall add on so they still have privacy but can see each-other over the top of the cubicle wall.

Developing a high efficiency cubicle environment takes a keen sense of what is working and what isn’t and the ability to balance the needs and preferences of co-workers. Creating a workplace design that promotes employee satisfaction and contentment is just as important as increasing productivity. Cubicle wall extenders can be an important part of the office layout process, but must be combined with a good hard look at inter-office dynamics and traffic flow within workplace to be truly effective.

The age of the cubicle is definitely here to stay, but not every employee adores the office in a box feel. How can an office manager make everyone’s work-space feel like their own sanctuary, and still maintain effective use of square footage?

Cubicle wall extenders can solve the problem of people popping up in their cubicles every five minutes to gossip. They can create a more private area for each employee, cut down on extra noise, and prevent employees from becoming frustrated with neighbors who don’t have a concept of work-friendly environments.

However, cubicle wall height extension is only the first step. It can be extremely beneficial if each employee understands proper office etiquette, so they can co-exist peacefully with everyone else in the office. These tips can be circulated in a memo, or posted in the break room as a reminder.

Don’t Just Drop In

While it’s tempting to slide a rolling chair across the skinny aisle and into a co-worker’s cubicle to ask a question, it night not be the best time for the receiving party. Tell workers to email instead, and to ask via phone for a face to face if one is really needed.

Smell No Evil

Strong colognes, perfumes and deodorizing sprays or air fresheners don’t stay right where they are sprayed. Remind employees to consider of others when using such products, and consider non-spray products when appropriate to cut down on communal air contamination.

Keep it Clean

Individuality should certainly not be quashed by management – but in case brass drops by, each employee should understand what is and is not appropriate for cubicle display. Pictures of family and children – fine. Pictures of a night in Vegas – not so much. The company professional brand should be kept in mind at all times.

Crank it Down

Headphones are the best friend of the cubicle worker – they can allow music to be played without disturbing other workers and can keep private phone calls off of the speakerphone. Is an employee taking a break or making a personal call? Consider asking them to step outside or to the break room. No-one wants to hear the details of their latest trip to the doctor.

While increasing cubicle wall height can make each employee feel a little more sheltered, these tips can also improve inter-office relations and keep things running smoothly.

We love it when other bloggers agree that higher walls on cubicles are the most luxurious option! Arnold’s Office furniture compares “The 3 Types of Cube Heights and What It Says About Your Company”. Apparently, 66” is the height at which you can consider your cube its own sovereign nation. Unless you work in an office with a bunch of NBA stars, your privacy is assured. “High-walled cubicles are the Rolls Royce of office privacy. Even standing, employees cannot peer into each other’s office space, which allows for quiet, focused work without outside distractions.”

We agree! Fortunately, we’ve figured out a way to increase the height of cubicle walls at a pre-owned Ford Taurus price instead of a Rolls Royce price. Check out our full line of panel products here. How many inches do your walls need to gain to hit 66?

The universal mounting brackets on our panel products make you think: What other ways could I use these panels? We’ll look at a different concept each week until we run out of ideas!

Sideways Extension

Have you ever needed to work on something in a cubicle with a coworker? They can roll up an extra chair, but they are often left kind of dangling out in the open. This makes them vulnerable to interruption. Perhaps you could extend a 2 or 3 wall cubicle to have one longer “arm” that will shield your coworker from distractions. It would only take a couple of minutes to add a panel extender vertically on the side of a cubicle wall. The steel frame is the same as on the top, so there’s no reason a bracket wouldn’t work just as well in this position.