Open plan offices enable a subtle kind of sexism. One recent study on an organization’s move from a traditional office to an open plan illuminated how the intense visibility and lack of privacy caused female employees to change the way they act at work. Even the architect, which the study kept anonymous, compared his design to a nudist beach. advertisement advertisement After we published a story about the study, responses poured in from readers, who have detailed the impact open plan offices have had on their work and mental health. Crucially, these responses reveal that while open plan offices might be bad for everyone’s productivity, they tend to make work more difficult for women, who are scrutinized for their appearance at a far greater extent than men. The open plan office exacerbates the power dynamics already at play in work environments, as the #MeToo movement has revealed. As one reader put it: “Regardless of the shape the walls make, women should be made to feel like they belong.” These are their responses. They have been lightly edited for clarity. Open Offices Can Make Sexual Harassment Worse “Your article was the first one I’ve read about open plan offices that alluded… Read full this story
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