Tag : cubicle walls

Does your cubicle neighbor like to eat strong smelling food at their desk? Sometimes different tastes can cause clashes in the workplace when smells extend beyond the taupe walls dividing workers.

Let’s face it – for those coming in on Monday still struggling to get over the weekend, a heavy dose of curry or Tex Mex emanating from next door could be problematic. It’s hard enough trying to concentrate on work without having to deal with smells, too.

As an office manager, one way to avoid problems like this is by setting rules about having hot food at desks. this lets those who might need a small snack of nuts or dried fruit to pick them up mid-day to get through until the end of work hours, but keeps stronger far limited to a separate space.

What can you do to nicely request that food be kept in a lunch room or break-room? Is there a tactful way to do it, or do you have to be blunt? Is eating at your desk a commonplace action in your workplace?

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.

Sometimes, a lack of cubicle walls can be more than just an inconvenience – it can be downright dangerous. Check out what happens in this YouTube video when one employee decides to pester another by throwing stuff across an open, bench style worktable. It’s all apparently in good fun until the harassed coworker launches himself across the desk space and beats the joker with his own keyboard. The saddest thing is that the surrounding coworkers forced to share the same workspace barely miss a beat.

Is this such a common occurrence at their workplace that it doesn’t merit notice? Is this the kind of jungle the office can devolve into without the civilizing influence of cubicle walls? You be the judge. We think employees should at least have a nice desk mounted divider if they’re forced to sit directly across from each other all day. It may not stop the spitball trebuchet, but at least it makes it more difficult to lunge over the desktop to commit bodily harm.