News that one in three staff say open-plan offices are noisy and overcrowded will hardly come as a revelation to those who spend their working days being overlooked and overheard by all and sundry, writes Laura Smith.
A lack of privacy, "overwhelming" food smells and incessant mobile phone calls by colleagues were the biggest gripes in a survey of more than 1,000 workers carried out by the recruitment firm Office Angels. The figures showed 84% of them would rather work in closed than open-plan offices.
It's not difficult to understand the theory behind open-plan offices, which have grown in popularity over the past 30 years, along with the idea that they increase productivity.
According to the online business journal Flexibility, open plan offices use space more efficiently, encourage a culture of shared facilities and prevent the development of a "bunker" mentality.
Such layouts apparently also tend to be associated with flatter management structures, more flexible working practices and hotdesking.
Sadly - rather like high-rise housing - the reality often fails to live up to the dream. For "efficient use of space", read "not enough room to store a pad of Post-Its". For "mentality of shared facilities", read "where's my stapler?". And for "flatter management structures", read "your boss can see what you're doing".
The wearing of strong, cheap perfume, the public letting off of wind and non-stop gossip about glamorous social lives are other pet hates. And we haven't even got started on the wars involving overspill from one desk to another.
Yes, it can be hard existing in an environment in which the only hope of privacy is the toilet. And apparently things are even worse for the boys.
Another survey out today - this one by Raleigh - found 62% of men felt office life offered no way of releasing adrenaline. The poor things. Perhaps they should try some office-based exercises.
Open-plan does, however, have its compensations - the banter, the chance of someone else making a cup of tea, the aforementioned stapler.
And how else would you overhear news about the latest hirings and firings from managers having a "private chat" by the kettle or see a previously unknown side of your scary boss when his toddler calls?
Aren't smelly food and mystery bugs small prices to pay for such delights?
