Dear Vicki: 'Should the boss have their own office or sit out in the open with the rest of the staff?'

"Q I am the managing director of an arts company, and we are moving into a smashing new building. Along with some senior staff, I am designing exactly what our headquarters will look like and a key question has arisen. Should the boss have their own private space? My instinct is there is no need for one, and I would prefer to sit in an open-plan office where I can interact with staff and be visible and approachable."

"Q I am the managing director of an arts company, and we are moving into a smashing new building. Along with some senior staff, I am designing exactly what our headquarters will look like and a key question has arisen. Should the boss have their own private space? My instinct is there is no need for one, and I would prefer to sit in an open-plan office where I can interact with staff and be visible and approachable."

The managing director and senior staff are designing a new headquarters after moving into a new building. A central decision concerns whether the boss should have a private office or work in an open-plan layout. The managing director prefers no private office and wants to sit in an open-plan space to increase interaction, visibility, and approachability with staff. Office planning must balance those benefits against the need for confidential conversations, focused work, and occasional privacy. The design can incorporate open collaborative areas alongside bookable private rooms to meet both accessibility and confidentiality needs.

Read at Independent