Open Offices Help Limit Ageism In The Workplace
There is constantly an argument between those that love open-concept offices, and those that can’t stand them. While there is a laundry list of pros and cons, it’s important to note that open offices can lend a hand to the fight to eliminate ageism in the workplace.
Often, in closed office set-ups, the older workforce is shut off from the younger generations because they have earned the right to prime office spaces. While getting your own office (with a door!) is something many workers strive for, it may not be the best solution.
By keeping generations apart in the office, it becomes easier for age biases to spread like wildfire. And while sitting behind a closed door may seem like a treat now, it won’t feel that way as you are phased out of the company due to age bias.
Open-space offices more-or-less force every employee to interact, or at least share the same air. Every employee gets a visual of who is present in the office – the young, the old, and the in-between. This visual creates a new “stereotype” of the workplace – one that is multi-generational.
So, while many people are hemming and hawing over open offices, we’ll be over here promoting them so we can lower ageism and stay in the workforce longer.
