Should Health Service Managers Embrace Open Plan Work Environments?: A Review

Introduction: In an era of changing workplace reforms, health service managers are embracing innovative work place designs, such as open plan work environments, where employees may have more flexibility. Managers are constantly seeking different ways of transforming their workplace so that their corporate culture and image can be improved. On the one hand, they must respond to corporate pressures to reduce the costs of building facilities and on the other hand they are indirectly introducing different types of issues that affect their employees. Method: A review of the literature was conducted by examining textbooks and journal articles in relation to the various issues that affect employees in an open plan work environment. Results: Research evidence shows that employees face a multitude of problems such as the loss of privacy, loss of identity, low work productivity, various health issues, overstimulation and low job satisfaction when working in an open plan work environment. Conclusion: Managers need to have a better understanding of open plan work environments before embracing such workplace designs. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended when decisions are being made in relation to which type of environment is better suited to the requirements of their employees as this has an impact on workforce productivity and job satisfaction.