I knew it! Cubicles kill
Kathy Sierra reports on the Brain Death that occurs in cubicles. Apparently that whole 'brain cells don't replenish' stuff is bogus. The thing is that the previous experiments weren't seeing brain cell replenishment because of the test subjects surroundings: ie. cage. Hello!? No friggin' wonder that offices are often massive death beds for innovation. Man.
At my last job, I kept fighting for them to tear down the cubes and make the office open and collaborative. In the meantime, I would come into work and immediately break into some terrible allergic fit. The building super thought I was a nitwit, but called in all of these environmental specialists to check for mold. I'm not an allergy riddled person. But I'd sneeze and my nose and eyes would run madly. And I would get itchy all over. As soon as I walked away, I would clear up. I used to joke that I was allergic to work. ;)
But here's my theory...
It wasn't so much allergies, as it was my body craving the replenishment of my quickly diminishing brain cells. It knew more than I could intuitively. It desperately wanted to renew those cells, so would drive me away from that cubicle to do so. Darn good thing, too. I'd be a mess without those new cells!
Okay, so if you work in a cubicle, send this article to your HR person with a prepend:
Dear Mr./Ms. HR,
I've attached an article that I thought you should read. I'd like to hightlight the basic premise for your immediate attention: CUBICLES KILL. In order to keep compliant with safety standards, I advise that all cubicles be dismantled and removed immediately. If this does not happen, I cannot be held responsible for the aftermath of this information getting out further. Just imagine the number of worker's compensation claims that will be filed! Egad, the paperwork nightmare! And, I am certain that there are similar studies that point towards the physical dangers of paperwork as well (note to self: look this one up).
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Me
I mean, seriously, does anybody actually like working in a cubicle? Why hasn't this changed?
[photo credit: BMC]
3 Comments:
I've been working for a large law firm for the past four years, but my wife has never seen my office...er, cube. So I mentioned to her last night that I shared a cube and that if I rolled backward in my chair I would run into my cube-mate. She replied, "I didn't know you actually shared a cube. How demeaning." I felt about two inches tall, but in a good way.
I think it would be sorta' retro-cool to work in an office with a bunch of steel desks all facing the same direction. Of course the lack of clacking typewriters and absence of heavy smoke would kill the ambiance.
At my last job, I kept fighting for them to tear down the cubes and make the office open and collaborative.
An open office might sound "open and collaborative", but working in one I can only describe it as "noisy with constant interruption". The once or so a week I overhear something at all useful is outweighed by the fact that I'm interrupted every eight minutes on average.
Check out the book "Peopleware" by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister. They decided to quantitatively study what effect offices had on quality, something most management gurus don't bother with. The book is a little dated in cultural references (eg. Japan will crush us, HP makes good products) but I haven't yet seen any challenge to the content.
If the cubicles don’t kill me first, they will definitely get my boss killed. HA HA. Postal?
I used to work in an open area of my department; it was an excellent way to enjoy my corporate servitude. However, in an attempt to punish me for calling in sick twice in a month, my supervisor moved me into a cubicle next to him. Great huh?
Shh, I gotta go. I think he knows I am reading a blog.
CrittendenIV
of the Fellaheen Radio Network
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