Open Work Spaces Popular, but Many Prefer Closed Offices

The open work space in which employees have their own desks but may be in cubicles or in rooms together has become the norm in many workplaces, and a survey from Robert Half shows it is the preferred work space for optimal productivity for 38% of employees overall.

This was followed by a private office with the door closed (36%), working from home (18%) and working from another offsite location (9%).

However, survey respondents age 55 and older have the strongest preference for working in an office, with nearly half (45%) reporting they work best in a private office with a closed door. Working in an open office (38%) was the top response among 18- to 34-year-olds. Telecommuting was a close second choice for younger workers, at 36%, compared to 26% of professionals ages 35 to 54 and 17% of employees 55 and older.

More than half of workers surveyed said their productivity peaks at the beginning of the week, with Monday (29%) edging out Tuesday (27%). After Hump Day (20%), worker productivity dips: 13% of employees do their best work on Thursdays, followed by 11% on Fridays.

According to the survey, many professionals said they accomplish more work at the start of the day: 44% are most productive in the early morning and 31% in late morning, compared to 2% who like to do work after work hours and late at night. Only 2% of workers surveyed said they get the most work done at lunchtime, while 14% chose early afternoon and 6% late afternoon.

Asked about the single biggest distraction that impacts their productivity during the workday, coworkers who are too chatty and social topped the list (32%), followed by office noise (22%), unnecessary conference calls and meetings (20%), cell phone use (15%) and unnecessary emails (11%).

The survey included responses from more than 2,800 workers ages 18 or older and employed in office environments in the United States.