Unassigned Workspaces

"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei) 04/22/2015 at 15:20 • Filed to: None

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So the powers that be decided that we should all have unassigned desks, because “We’re a mobile workforce!” or some bull. It’s actually the fact that they are too damn cheap to lease more floor space in the building. Three words describe what I’m subjected to: I. Hate. This. Caution: This is a long rant...

(Note: Not my office. Ours wasn’t built with enough money thrown at it to get into design magazines)

So I told my boss that I would try it, but if it doesn’t work out, then we will have to come up with another solution.

So after 6 weeks with this new layout, I have come to despise it, because no where in their redesign did they solve any of the core issues that were plaguing our office space, and utilization of space.

1) It doesn’t respect those people who have challenges with constant change.

I happen to be someone who needs a routine to actually function at my best, and it really cuts into my productivity when I have to constantly be adjusting due to whatever circumstances are occurring. It also is not good for team cohesion when someone has the ability to step on other people’s toes. Our directors and higher managers can reserve space for themselves, but us trench workers cannot.

My fix would be to have the directors participate in dogfooding. Along with the operations team, because they all have assigned seating.

2) The different workstations are not set up with the same level of technology, leading to a tiered system.

Right, because you so couldn’t see the office political minefield of not giving everyone the exact same setup. Some workstations have two monitors, some only have one, some have arms, some do not, some have keyboards, some do not, etc...

This is a breeding ground for resentment and conflict. And over what? $100K to put two monitors on arms at all workstations? In a multimillion dollar revenue public company?

3) It doesn’t solve the major problem we have in the office, which is no available meeting space.

This is mainly due to the fact that the scheduling system allows for monopolization of rooms through recurring schedules, as well as a culture that works like this:

They could easily solve this by requiring a physical check in to hold the space otherwise the system cancels your reservation and frees it up. But they allow online check in, which defeats the whole purpose.

Conclusion: Unassigned Workspaces may be for you, but they are not for me.

KatzManDu > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 15:29

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They did this at Sun Microsystems when I worked there. The concept was that many of the employees should be out at customer sites driving sales or fixing broken gear, not in the office. So many offices were set up to not have permanent set ups for people, unless they were management or in specific positions.

The other problem here is no-one had a place for their stuff. Folders, papers, etc. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you were able to get a filing cabinet with a lock and key. But it wasn’t always near the office you were able to get into for the day. There was also no making your office your “home” — you couldn’t put photos on the desk of the wife and kids, etc, because there was no permanency.

thebigbossyboss > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 15:35

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That sucks. I hope they resolve this situation better soon.

Dilbert is so true my friend. so true.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > KatzManDu 04/22/2015 at 15:37

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I’m moving onto a team where there is almost no travel, so it’s completely unnecessary to be subjected to.

I did tell my teammates that if they were foolish enough to take my seat on a week that I’m not travelling, then there would be repercussions.

I happen to be someone who has a ton of product knowledge, and now, I’m not so sure I’m going to freely dispense it anymore.

Someone has tested this today. Sorry, Charlie, but I have to follow through.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > thebigbossyboss 04/22/2015 at 15:40

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In classic PHB fashion, what has proven to not work, they are doubling down.

The old floor I used to be on (and have been sitting there anyway, because I can actually be productive), is getting redone in the same fashion as the floor they moved me to.

thebigbossyboss > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 15:41

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HAHAHAHAHA. Sorry, but that is sort of hilarious at your expense. Hopefully they see the error of their ways first.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > thebigbossyboss 04/22/2015 at 15:45

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However, I hold special product knowledge, because they’ve abused their workforce so horridly (and I got a few small cash bonuses to stay with them) that there’s a huge gulf between people who have been here 5 years and more (of which I’m the lowest seniority of that group) and the people who have been here less than 2 years.

There is also a large issue with being somewhat deferential to senior people in the company. The less than 2 year people don’t understand that.

However, I can do their jobs in my sleep. Figuratively speaking.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 15:51

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My company does this in all of their European offices. Each person gets a rolling file cabinet that they lock up at the end of the day. All the workstations have the same tech, but the desks themselves are configured into different shaped groups. The idea is it fosters collaboration and flexibility. If you need privacy, you book a small meeting room, which are numerous. That is how you do unassigned desks properly.

However, I have my own office right now, so I’m happy with the status quo.

deekster_caddy > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 15:51

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Interesting idea. Poor execution. For this to work all of the workspaces really need to be approximately equal.

And yeah, meeting space is crucial. Some meetings do not require private conference rooms, for which the ‘casual office’ layout can work (and intrigue the outside party you are meeting with). Some discussions absolutely need to be held in private though. The system needs to account for that somehow.

The check-in thing is interesting. Our office is not nearly as big as yours, and we still have many many conflicts over meeting rooms.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 04/22/2015 at 16:00

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The problem with our implementation is that all the meeting rooms get monopolized by individual projects, and have recurring meetings for each day for 5 months straight. It was that way when we had fewer meeting rooms and now the problem has just multiplied.

Either way, I do not find that having to do constant adaptation is benefitting my productivity. It’s only benefitting the accounting department not having to lease more space.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 16:06

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That’s nuts with the meeting rooms. I don’t think I would like it either, might trigger some anxiety. Plus you figure you lose a certain amount of productivity each day setting up and closing down you workstation, let alone finding one. No way I am doing that off the clock, and those 20 min each day add up to a lot over the course of a year.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed 04/22/2015 at 16:13

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I did tell my boss that if the official impetus is that “we are a mobile workforce” then there is objectively no difference between being mobile somewhere in the 11 story building and being mobile at my kitchen table. His reaction in gif form...

KatzManDu > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 04/22/2015 at 16:31

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Even though I’ve been in my career field for 18 years I’m only now learning to say “no” to requests and to focus on the exact job/task set that I’ve been given and it’s been one of the hardest things to embrace. It will reduce your stress levels.

I know I’m off on a tangent, but since you’re product-knowledgable and likely to help, it sounds like you could be in the same boat as me (or the one that I was in.) Do what you can to do your job and help when you have the time AND mental strength to commit to the job.