talkmagic.co.uk

Today is a sad day for me

I'm being moved out of my nice, cosy little office into a horrible shared things, where you're not allowed any music, have to keep a clear desk, can't put anything up on the walls and can't have any fun

Commiserations Lomster, in my experience communal working spaces are a pain and do little for staff morale .

the swines! Will you still be able to play out?

That's a bummer. How about headphones?

in my experience communal working spaces are a pain

I used to think that, but now I have been in shared space for a while, I quite like the camaraderie (sp?) between colleagues. Luckily I get on well with those around, and it is nice to have a bit of a chat now and again.

The day when I stopped being able to be a programmer sitting in the corner with headphones in was a sad sad day for me.

I can honestly say my productivity has been shot.

Making programmers talk to people? Who came up with that brainwave?

bananafish wrote:That's a bummer. How about headphones?

Yes you can surreptitiously let one hang out of an ear on your blind side (if you have one). Back in my office days I would always make sure my desk was up against a wall or a window.
I suppose these days you could use a blue tooth headset. No one would notice.

I've done that transition myself as well Lady, I was just like yourself and was dreading it. But I actually prefer it now, there's a bit more banter. Also regarding the music I put one earphone in my right ear (my bad one) and keep my left ear free for anyone talking to me.

I can't help with the tidy desk though, I haven't seen mine for months.

I have enough trouble keeping my chocolate stash safe now, how am I going to managed with all these extra, greedy little eyes abount.

Ear phone're ok but still not the same as wacking the music up loud and doing a jig around the office.

And what about Talk Magic, I might actually have to do some work now...

Oh my world's comming to an end

Find a GP who's in need of a bit of cash and hand over a crisp new £10 note in return for a certificate showing you're suffering from Agoraphobia. Defined by Wikki as "a condition where the sufferer becomes anxious in environments that are unfamiliar or where he or she perceives that they have little control. Triggers for this anxiety may include crowds, wide open spaces or travelling" Obviously the bit about crowds and travelling would have to be left out and just concentrate on the open spaces and unfamiliar environments aspects....

Open plan working is the way forward providing the space is planned well,

it's my job to move people from one office to another including the move from cellular office to open plan working and the idea of 7 desks per 10 employees!

I love it and most people buy into it once sat open plan because of the extra banter, buzz around the office, looking up and seeing someone rather than having to walk out the door, down a flight of stairs etc to see if they're at their desk.

You'll love it!

Everyday going to work is a sad day.

the one bonus is that I dont have to sit in meetings. My favourite part of my working day is walking passed the meeting rooms and seeing the many crushed spirits sitting in meeting looking like they want it all to end.

This is where civilastion has brought us. A huge majority of the population sitting in front of computers or in meetings arranging things they care little or nothing about just so they can be thrown the chance to try to aspire to a lifestyle sold to them. i love it.

Mediocrity has been sold to people as a lifestyle choice. When you're young you get on the treadmill just so you can earn a few quid before you go off to do whatever your dream is. Sadly, once you're in very few escape. Most get shackled to their desk by a mortgage or rent to be paid, and suddenly realise that they can't afford not to be stuck to that desk. There is no escape available at this point except in the most extreme cases - the national lottery for instance. The promise of freedom from mediocrity sold to millions of people every Wednesday and Saturday night. And if it's not the lottery then how exactly are you going to be able to afford to chase your dreams?

So you promise yourself that you'll change things when you're 25, or 30, or 40, or 45, or....well, too late now eh? Still, might win the lottery this week eh?

Chin up.

Agecroft wrote:Open plan working is the way forward providing the space is planned well

Going back to the mid 1960's the most progressive and advanced office accommodation locally was British Gas at Solihull. All double glazed open plan with water coolers, in-house hairdressers, sports and recreation facilities including a full sized swimming pool, there was real kudos in being employed there and usually more applicants than vacancies with just about everyone eager to work 'at the Gas'. That lasted just under 30 years so didn't do too badly but, following privatisation and break up of the various divisions, most of those jobs are now 'outsourced' to overseas contractors and the showpiece office complex is just another one of dozens of similar redevelopment sites. Sorry to be so cheerful!

its a sad day for me too lomster - my best mate at my office has left now...gutted about that, she was my little sparring partner at work...

open plan offices...good and bad...you do get to chat a bit, but also greedy little eyes watching you...find yourself a space at the back of the office, monitor facing a wall, no one behind you...and you're safe...

i believe you can buy wingmirrors for your monitors on one of those gadget sites...

Im so happy I dont have to be cooped up in an office all day tapping away at little keys. Im very glad that Iv got a job where I actually do something productive all day long and see the results - real job satisfaction.

It is very hard work though, and once Im qualified Im definately doing something else with my life as Iv always got my current job to fall back on if times get rough. Id like to work in a pub maybe. I dont know, but something that actually has me doing something as I think office work would bore me to death.