Ramantswana and colleagues evaluated user perceptions of open plan offices. They report that “The choice of [office] layout can significantly impact communication, social interaction and overall performance. . . . employees working in open-plan offices were identified. A structured online interview form with open-ended questions was distributed. . . . findings suggest that while open-plan offices can enhance teamwork, communication, accessibility and inclusivity, their design can negatively affect employees’ perceptions of social and mental health in the workplace. Specifically, open-plan designs are perceived to compromise privacy, shorten attention spans, lower productivity and increase stress levels.” Data were collected in South Africa.
Thabelo Ramantswana, Lebogang Mmamabolo, and Rianne Appel-Meulenboek. 2024. “Open-Plan Office Employees’ Perceived Mental and Social Well-Being.” Journal of Corporate Real Estate, https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-10-2023-0042