Has an employee ever said to you, “This job is killing me!” If they work in a cubicle, they may not be exaggerating. Well, maybe just a little.
An Australian university professor says 90% of research on the subject shows working in open-plan offices (cubicles) has negative outcomes, causing high levels of stress, conflict, high blood pressure, a high staff turnover and boils.
OK, we’re kidding about the boils.
Dr. Vinesh Oommen from the Queensland University of Technology’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation told The Queensland Times, “the evidence we found was absolutely shocking.”
Dr. Oommen said the high noise level causes employees to lose concentration, leading to low productivity.
It’s safe to say no one expects companies around the country to start converting from open-plan to small private offices. So what should employees do to survive the cubicle jungle?
The New York Daily News sought advice from Janet Zinn, a licensed clinical social worker in Manhattan. “Play music if you can, to help screen out other workers.”
Zinn also says employees shouldn’t deny their feelings about a stressful workplace. “It doesn’t help you cope, and it can make you feel worse in some ways.”
