Sanjeev Satgainya

Kathmandu

Modern-day working has become sophisticated and more focused. Technology and innovations have played major role and experts have strived to bring out the potential of employees. And they have helped a lot to make workplaces more result-oriented. One innovative idea that has emerged is working in cubicles.

Cubicles provide privacy, and a calm environment, working within them could enhance

productivity. Binit Bikram Sijapati works in a private bank and spends more than seven hours a day in a cubicle.

He shares, “At times, working with a number of people around you does not let you concentrate and many times you unknowingly get involved in what others are talking. This automatically lessens your speed and hence productivity declines.”

On the other hand, it is still true that because working in a cubicle gives a sense of aloneness; people get habituated to staying alone and lose an attitude of discussing things with their colleagues.

Although cubicles give the illusion of privacy, those little walls are easily penetrated by your cube mates’ incessant sounds and conversations. Not only is a lack of cube etiquette a problem, but spending most of your workday sitting also can make you irritated at the end of the day.

Suraj Shah, engineer, shares, “Culture is an important factor. We have a tendency of working in open spaces and people might suffer from loneliness while working in a separate area. Another important factor is when you hear conversation directly it does not matter, but when your others’ conversation penetrate your cube wall it is irritating.”

But there are more benefits than drawbacks of working in cubicles. S S Dabas, executive director, Everest Bank Nepal, shares, “First of all, it all depends on what type of organisation one is working in. A company where there are some finance secrets or file secrecy has to be maintained, cubicles are the best solutions. It makes one focused and increases productivity.”

But cubicles do not provide a place to discuss, hence, interaction lessens. Dabas reasons, “Interaction should be scheduled and panels should gather for discussion at one time. I prefer open cubicles where a person can be seen when s/he stands up. Today employees have direct interaction with computer terminals that is accessible to all. So, there is no point in interacting with other people any time.”

Cubicles, though meant for productivity, are not must-have. “If someone holds a position where secrecy has to be maintained then cubicles are the best option but it all depends on the nature of work one is involved in,” says Nabindra Shrestha, finance controller, National Hydropower Company, Kamaladi.

The drawback? Dabas adds, “For those who need surveillance and who must be pushed

incessantly to work, cubicles create a problem.”