Will’s View

On the way to work on the bus this morning, one of the passengers was having an intense gossip with the bus driver. My immediate reaction was one of concern for the passengers’ safety, as the bus driver seemed a little too involved with the conversation. But as time passed I realised that there was no need to worry, the driver was doing his job, and doing it well

This initial consternation then gave way to interest. Isn’t it interesting how some people will share their entire lives (this particular person was talking about her current family situation) with someone as incidental as a bus driver? I’m not saying that their work goes unappreciated -I wouldn’t have a chance of getting to work without them-  just that it’s unusual for the ‘average Joe’ to have long and involved chats with people they spend such little time with.

However, then I reconsidered. We all like to have somewhere where we’re recognised. Who wouldn’t like to have been one of the regulars at ‘Cheers’? Or have a local coffee shop where the barrista knows exactly what coffee you have every morning, and how you like it? We like to think that we mean something to someone outside our normal sphere of influence, to connect with someone to whom we don’t owe anything and from whom we don’t expect anything. Or maybe we just like to have a morning chat on the way to work. Who knows?

--> On the way to work on the bus this morning, one of the passengers was having an intense gossip with the bus driver. My immediate reaction was one of concern for the passengers’ safety, as the bus driver seemed a little too involved with the conversation. But as time passed I realised that there was no need to worry, the driver was doing his job, and doing it well This initial consternation then gave way to interest. Isn’t (More...)

I don’t like ‘open plan’ offices. Open plan living areas, sure. Open homes, no problem. But I’m not convinced that open plan offices are a great idea.

I understand that the intention is that they promote an open and collaborative working atmosphere, and all those other management-sounding new-age catch-phrases. But I don’t think they had my office in mind. I sit next to a partially deaf bloke who talks like he’s running an auction. When he’s on personal phone calls it’s like listening to a combination of a Pavarotti and the commentary on the Trackside horse racing channel. Don’t even start with me about the guy who has decided he wants a 6 cubic metre skip for renovation waste. There have been several long calls to bin hire places, just to get quotes.

Not only does one have to be privy to the conversations of those around you, but the chest-high barriers used as wall substitutes can lead to odd situations. Recently one of my co-workers was trying to get hold of our manager, whose desk was currently lying vacant. It being a relatively important call, the co-worker decided to call him on his cell phone. From across the office I heard a gruff “Hello? Well, stand up and have a look. I’m over here, I’ll come and see you soon. Maybe you should look around before calling next time.” A more summary dismissal I have rarely heard. And the entire office had heard it too.

I think possibly the worst thing about open plan offices is the tendency of people to wander over and lean on the handily-placed divider and have a yarn. I don’t mean a bit of mindless water-cooler talk (which also frustrates me) but a real gossip. Especially for those poor souls located on the way to the photocopier or the printer, they get it the worst. People will click ‘Print’ on a 200+ page document, and then immediately get up to go and get it from the printer. Then, when — to their surprise — it hasn’t printed yet, they will lean and talk at the nearest pair of working ears.

--> I don’t like ‘open plan’ offices. Open plan living areas, sure. Open homes, no problem. But I’m not convinced that open plan offices are a great idea. I understand that the intention is that they promote an open and collaborative working atmosphere, and all those other management-sounding new-age catch-phrases. But I don’t think they had my office in mind. I sit next to a partially deaf bloke who talks like he’s running an auction. When he’s on personal (More...)