Blood pressure Quote by Susan Cain
““A mountain of recent data on open-plan offices from many different industries corroborates the results of the games. Open-plan offices have been found to reduce productivity and impair memory. They’re associated with high staff turnover. They make people sick, hostile, unmotivated, and insecure. Open-plan workers are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and elevated stress levels and to get the flu; they argue more with their colleagues; they worry about coworkers eavesdropping on their phone calls and spying on their computer screens. They have fewer personal and confidential conversations with colleagues. They’re often subject to loud and uncontrollable noise, which raises heart rates; releases cortisol, the body’s fight-or-flight “stress” hormone; and makes people socially distant, quick to anger, aggressive, and slow to help others.””
About This Quote
Source Article: “Open-Plan Offices: The Hidden Costs” by Susan Cain, 2018
Open-plan offices lower productivity, harm memory, increase turnover, stress, illness, and social conflict due to noise and lack of privacy.
In simple terms: Open-plan offices hurt work and health.
Key Takeaway
Consider private or hybrid workspaces.
Themes
productivity
health
wellbeing
social dynamics
environment
Mood
concerned
critical
analytical
Type
advisory
research
When to use this quote
- office design
- team collaboration
- employee health
- stress management
Key Concepts
cognitive load
stress response
privacy
noise pollution
Questions to Reflect On
- How can organizations balance collaboration with privacy?
- What design changes most improve employee wellbeing?
A Different Perspective
Noise and lack of privacy can be mitigated with design changes, but cultural habits may persist.
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