The Quietest Corner of Grand Central Station − 1 May, 2008
We’re moving into new office space tomorrow. The new facility is nice in some regards and appalling in others. There is a great disparity between the workspaces of various employees. The managers have enormous offices with extremely nice furniture. The non-managers are in cubes. This is all too typical. Among the cubes there is also tremendous disparity.
Because of a disability, I got the nicest cube. My disability makes it extremely difficult for me to concentrate in a noisy environment. They could not give me an office, since only managers have offices, and empty offices are to be used as “floating” space for faculty. But I have a floor to ceiling window that looks out onto a patio. In the distance is nothing but green because my office building is situated on a farm. I also have the most protected of the cubes, privacy-wise.
Compared to the other cubes, mine is paradise. Some people’s cubes are out in the open, with only two walls. Those people’s backs will be turned to the wide space between the two banks of cubes. There will be a great deal of foot traffic through that area because there is only one door for the entire office space, which is very long and narrow. There is an entire suite to the North of us. All of those people will have to enter a door several hundred paces to the South of my cube and make the long trek past our cubes to their workspace, hundreds of paces to the north.
I’m astonished that anyone thought people would be content in the exposed cubes. Already, people in those cubes are asking for additional walls. One need not be feng shui expert to recognize that having one’s back to a wide open space with lots of foot traffic can be an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Even as protected as my corner cube is, I felt naked and unprotected with my back to the open until I moved a high cabinet next to my desk to create a short fourth wall.
Cubes on the windowless wall are more private, but they are dark and cheerless. Some are adequately sized, but some are pathetically small. My poor office mate, who I will miss “rooming” with because we are so compatible, will be stuck near the front door, where everyone will be coming in, right next to the two loudest, chattiest people in our group. I feel very badly for him. I told him he could come down and bunk with me in my cube if it became intolerable. I have flex days on Wednesdays, so I told him he could use it then, too.
Who knows how this will all work out in actuality? Visually my cube is quite appealing. My office mate was pleased when he saw his new workspace. But the space as a whole will be noisy and chaotic. Cube walls don’t cut sound unless someone is whispering. No one in my office whispers. In fact, we’re kind of a loud bunch. Some people make lots of personal phone calls. Already, my not-so-senior colleague explained that she couldn’t believe how loud it was when two co-workers stood next to her cube chatting. I don’t have much sympathy for her. She is on the phone every day, sometimes for hours, making personal calls, disturbing everyone around her. She owns a perfectly good cell phone, but never seems to use it.
Before I saw my cube, I imagined that I’d probably be trying to escape it for quieter venues, as I did in our current suite. However, when I saw my cube and heard how envious my colleagues are, I knew that I’d better hunker down, shut up, and use it so that I don’t lose it or piss everyone off. No one really gets how difficult it is for me to concentrate when there’s noise, but I think that management is beginning to “get” that it is an issue they have to address. I have one flex day, and my manager let me know that a second day would be possible if the noise gets very bad. Obviously, whoever planned the office did the best they could on my behalf, and I am grateful.
I’m hoping for the best, but am prepared to try to work in the quietest corner of Grand Central Station.
Postscript: The first few days went really well. But then this happened
Comments:
intrepideddie (May 3, 2008. 04:12am)
I despise cubicle farms. Ever since college, that is the only work environment I've ever known. In fact, I've never worked in a building that even had windows until my current job. Ah, nothing like that cramped, dungeon atmosphere to get you in a productive mood.
peahayes (May 3, 2008. 12:27pm)
Yeah, no kidding. I tried to show my ex-boss the literature written on cubes vs other types of environments, but all we've gotten so far is cubes. I've been subversive and found my own space. By squatting in our old conference for almost a year, when it finally got turned into and office, I got to stay. I'm quite the rebellious girl!
kga245 (May 5, 2008. 11:10pm)
I have vowed never to work in a cube farm again. In June it will have been two years since I quit my day job. As I type this, I am looking out the window of the bottom floor of a house that friend lets me use for my "office". I am ten feet from a palm tree. "It's nice work if you can get it."
peahayes (May 5, 2008. 11:17pm)
Indeed! The effect on your attitude probably shines through in the work you do. BTW, I am actually enjoying my cube. I am very surprised. But I love the window, and now, most of the "noise" is coming from the two people I would most want to hear talk. I can either tune them out if I need to concentrate, or listen in if they are talking about something interesting (good tech stuff).