Now I know you've worked in many different kinds of offices around the world. Um... what do you prefer: a private office or maybe a shared open space?
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Jackie: For this week's podcastsinenglish.com business podcast, we're talking again about what makes a good work area, a workspace. With me is Jo, hi Jo.
Jo: Hello
Jackie: Now I know you've worked in many different kinds of offices around the world. Um... what do you prefer: a private office or maybe a shared open space?
Jo: Well, I think back to some of the offices I've worked in and I think the most successful have been the ones where, as teachers, we have access to each other, quite easily, so I would prefer, probably er... a more open plan type of office. I don't really want to see myself locked away with the door closed.
Jackie: And are you happy to go into the room er... and share whatever desks are available or do you still want to have your own desk within an open plan area?
Jo: Well, generally speaking it's been, I think, what they call hot-desking and I've just taken what computer or desk space might be available.
Jackie: And you're happy about that are you?
Jo: I don't mind that, I don't mind that, I do like to have somewhere to keep my things um...
Jackie: So storage is important.
Jo: Yeah, I think that's important for a sense of belonging but I appreciated that when I wasn't there, it was fine for other people to use it as long as they left it as tidy as I leave it [laughs].
Jackie: What about the furniture itself then so if you're sharing a desk and a chair, is it important then that you can adjust the height of the chair, for example?
Jo: Yes, yes, I think the... the chair, and funnily enough the flooring, also is important because if you have a chair on wheels you need to have a stable place for the chair to be on the ground, so to speak, because of possibly slipping. So yes, yes, swivel but er... you need to be able to adjust it to your own comfort and er... height for the desk area.
Jackie: So, what about acoustics, Jo? What about the sound? It can be quite noisy, can't it, in an open plan office.
Jo: It can. And I find sometimes if you're trying to do close, concentrated um... tasks I find that quite disruptive.
Jackie: Some offices have a little room, a little quiet area away.
Jo: Yes, yes, I remember working somewhere once, I think it was Madrid, we had a quiet room and it was actually called that and... and the whole premise was that there was a big staff room where people could work together but there was also this quiet room that you went into to plan and prepare lessons and it really was um... a quiet room and people really respected that and people got on with their job.
Jackie: Okay, last point then Jo: air conditioning.
Jo: Well yes um... I have worked in some countries that, I mean you just can't function without it and...
Jackie: ...Because it's so hot outside.
Jo: It's so hot outside and if you have that heat indoors, I can't... I can't work very well and you find your arms sticking to the desk which I find really uncomfortable.
Jackie: But some people don't like air conditioning because it can be too cold.
Jo: Well, I think there are guidelines these days as to what's a comfortable temperature. Obviously you mustn't be too cold and you don't want it to be directed straight on your back or your neck er... for example it needs to be um... you know, thought about carefully so everyone's comfortable.
Jackie: Mmm. Comfort, that's important.
Jo: It is. It is. If you're going to be sitting, doing um... work of, you know, an extended period of time you do need to be as comfortable as possible and have everything around you that makes you feel, I don't know, conducive to working.
Jackie: Jo, thank you very much.
Jo: You're welcome. Nice to talk to you.
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