Open‑Plan Offices Linked to Higher Workplace Bullying Risk
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Study of 3,300 workers finds open‑plan layout raises bullying odds Researchers from Linköping University surveyed a random sample of 3,300 employees in traditional open‑plan, activity‑based, and private or small‑group offices, revealing a clear increase in bullying risk for those in traditional open‑plan settings [5].
Lack of private spaces in traditional open plans fuels victim vulnerability The absence of retreat areas in conventional open‑plan offices makes it harder for bullying targets to escape confrontation, amplifying the likelihood of escalation [5].
Activity‑based offices mitigate bullying by offering quiet rooms Workspaces that combine a bullpen with designated private rooms did not show the same heightened bullying risk, underscoring the protective role of accessible quiet spaces [5].
Open‑plan workers show greater intent to quit than those in private offices Employees in both traditional and activity‑based open‑plan environments reported higher willingness to change jobs, indicating lower satisfaction and potential turnover concerns [5].
Psychologist Michael Rosander urges proactive conflict management Rosander stresses that employers should plan for intra‑office irritation, assign compatible task groups, and provide undisturbed workrooms to curb bullying and improve productivity [1].
- Michael Rosander, psychologist and study author: “Increased bullying is a tangible negative consequence of how you choose to organize the workplace,” and later added, “Traditional open‑plan offices are in themselves negative for the individual, for productivity, and make people more likely to leave their job.” [1]