Modern Furniture Designs Help in the Evolution of This Traditional Cubicle Setup

 

The traditional cubicle design, invented by Robert Propst and was commercialized in 1968, has undergone an evolution in recent years. The main goal of Propst was to boost productivity as it helps the employees focus on the task while also giving them plenty of storage space in the cubicle.

 

Even during the planning stage, the owners and designers will have to decide whether to go for office furniture cubicles or more of an open concept. As the term implies, the latter eliminates dividers so employees will have an unobstructed view of their colleagues. 

 

The open concept design was billed to boost communication and interaction among employees, which might be more of an impression than anything else. With that said, in recent years, manufacturers have helped evolve the office furniture cubicles to meet the demands of the times.

 

From the previous one-size-fits-all approach, you now have a broad spectrum of choices that businesses can choose from. For instance, glass dividers provide both privacy and an opportunity to interact with your co-employees. The ergonomic designs of the modern furniture pieces also help reduce back or neck pain even if you are sitting on your desk all day. 

 

Here are some of the advantages of modern office cubicles:

 

  1. They provide the employee a sense of ownership — You will see it in every office you visit. Employees would have photos of their families in their cubicles, their favorite pens, and other knick-knacks. Even without knowing the person, you will readily recognize if the woman or a man owns the cubicle. The employee considers the cubicle as their refuge–their home away from home. 

 

  1. They add uniformity to the office — Nobody is higher than the other. Everybody gets the same amount of space in the office. 

 

  1. You can maximize the office space — Perhaps the most significant of office furniture cubicles is the opportunity to utilize the space effectively. It is particularly beneficial for small offices where you need every inch of space you can get.

 

  1. Privacy — With the right design, the cubicle will serve as the sanctuary of the employees. When they need to get away from their colleagues or clients for a few seconds, they can sit in their cubicle, and nobody would bother them. 

 

 

People always have the idea that an open-plan office will encourage communication among the employees. But it is not always true. A study by the Royal Society Publishing found that workers tend to interact less with colleagues in an open space environment. The research revealed that workers sent more emails or Instant Messaging to their co-workers rather than engage in conversation. 

 

The researchers did not explain the phenomenon. However, they attribute it to the fact that people take for granted the “boundary less space.” Since they see each other all the time, they didn’t think much about electronic messaging as opposed to talking to their co-workers.

 

Meanwhile, modern approaches have helped create a workspace that your workers view as a refuge rather than a prison. Today’s offices no longer feature modular designs. You have curved workstations or bespoke cubicles that boost productivity and communication among the employees. As the cubicle continues to evolve, the workers will end up the ultimate beneficiaries. 

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