One day, while the boss was all tied up (literally), three of his employees took matters into their own hands and changed the office atmosphere. Productivity increased and the employees showed an enjoyment in their daily work life.

Despite its fictional storyline, the movie accurately shows how an office’s atmosphere can affect efficiency. One way this rings true is with the cubicle.

The cubicle was first introduced in the mid-1960s by Robert Propst, who called his prototype Action Office. Since then, its fabric panel walls have changed from dull to vibrant tones, and new options are available, including wood, and even Plexiglas windows in a variety of patterns.

The Scottsdale showroom for @ the Office, formerly Emerlings, offers a variety of shapes, heights and colors. Shades of green, orange and pink are just a few of the colors manufacturers are utilizing as office design schemes become more contemporary and personalized.

“It’s part of our job to make (cubicles) a little more fun, make them interesting,” says Perry Ross, president of @ the Office.

The office supply dealer uses software to create renderings of a customer’s ideal cubicle so they can compare different ideas back at the office and visualize the end result.

Ross says design features that can increase productivity include adequate lighting, adjustable monitor arms, keyboard trays and adequate open and enclosed shelf space.

Deborah Schneiderman, assistant professor at Arizona State University’s College of Design, agrees.

“It is imperative that the design of the cubical or system furniture considers the working styles and needs of the individuals that use them,” Schneiderman says. “The work station should be designed to create a sustainable environment and configured to allow natural light and air to circulate through the space.”

Wist Office Products in Tempe takes sustainability to heart by exclusively carrying products by Evolve, a cubicle manufacturer based out of Toronto. Eighty percent of the products are made from recycled materials and all those products are 100 percent recyclable.

“(Evolve) is a complement that no other system can bring to a LEED certified building,” says Ian Wist, general manager of Wist Office Products.

Wist explains that cubicles have evolved considerably and the design incorporates aspects such as flexibility, acoustical properties, work surfaces and spacing environments.

“If you come into an efficient panel system that is ergonomically correct, a good workspace that fits your needs, it’s a motivator to come to work,” Wist says.

However, when you work in a cubicle environment, there are some negatives, says Tami Ballis, branch manager of the Tucson office of Robert Half International, a staffing and consulting firm.

“When you’re placing professionals in jobs that require a lot of interaction, cubicle environments work well in helping that interaction,” she says. “(However,) if you’re in an environment that you need to have many private conversations, (cubicles) tend to not work as well.”

Ballis explains that excessive noise can be detrimental to the office atmosphere. She suggests offices provide a private space, such as a small conference room, where employees can conduct conference calls. She also recommends not placing cubicles in high traffic areas, including near a printer or fax machine.

“Cubicles or system furniture, when designed well, are truly sustainable,” Schneiderman says.

Although it’s not recommended that you follow in the footsteps of “Nine to Five’s” employees, who wreaked havoc on Harts’ life both intentionally and unintentionally, a simple change in the office environment is all it takes to improve an office culture.

design.asu.edu
www.attheoffice.com
www.wist.com
www.rhi.com