If you’ve ever worked in a cubicle or open-concept office, you know it’s like working in a fishbowl. Anything you do can be observed by whoever happens to be around, and the sense of being watched impacts productivity. On top of that, you’re bombarded by constant noise disruptions from nearby conversations and phone calls. By the time you head home, it can feel like you wasted half your time and energy fighting to stay on track.
Privacy can be elusive in the workplace. Luckily, you can take steps to create a sense of privacy regardless of your office layout.
- Use Dividers
Dividers are perfect for sectioning off your space, and they come in a variety of forms. If you work in an open-office setting, desktop panels provide just the right amount of privacy. If you want to close a cubicle off, full-length fold-up or sliding solutions can ensure privacy when you need it and store away when you don’t. Office designers can also set up office partitions Toronto to create separate spaces that allow groups of employees to collaborate while simultaneously providing privacy.
- Fight Ambient Noise
Noise pollution is one of the worst inhibitors of productivity at work. Even with dividers, it can be hard to feel like your space is private if office sounds constantly intrude. To quiet things down, consider using sound-absorption panels or materials that dampen sound, such as cloth, for walls or partitions. If you need to block everything out, earplugs and noise-canceling headphones are great options.
- Block Your Computer Screen
Many people value computer privacy. Depending on your workspace, you may be able to angle your screen away from colleagues and passersby or use dividers to block lines of sight. If these aren’t options, however, don’t worry. Screen filters adhere to monitors and reduce screen visibility from indirect angles.
With a few simple changes to your workspace, you can finally achieve workplace privacy.