The layout of an Austrian office is different than in the U.S. There are no cube farms here. They have a long hallway with many offices. Each office will hold either 2, 4, 6, 8 people usually. Of course, upper management has their own office.
I never thought I would say this, but I miss my cubicle. At least in a cube there was hustle and bustle. People were moving, talking with one another, and answering the phone. There was noise and activity.
When I first came to Austria and saw that I would be in an office rather than a cubicle I thought, Cool. But now I feel the downside to this perk. I call it office fever. It’s like island fever (for Austrian readers, island fever means feeling restless due to an environment that is always the same). Every day for 9 hours I am in my office with the same two people. Now don’t get me wrong. These two are nice people. But 9 hours a day. 5 days a week. I can’t be around my husband for that long!
I know you are thinking, well, you have to have more than 2 co-workers. And I do. But everyone is in their own office. With the door shut. Austrians love to have shut doors. So even though I travel through the halls, doors are shut and interaction with others is minimal.
Office Fever.
I am trying to interact with other co-workers, but the barrier of the door is intimidating. When I do reach out (email with a 15 minute coffee break invitation) I just kind of get a weird look, like the person is wondering why I want to have a coffee break with them. Like they are wondering what I want. What I want? A little human interaction!
My two officemates are nice to me and let me keep our office door open once in awhile. I’ve explained the reason for it, that I just need the background noise, and they let it go. Maybe I’ll start a trend!
Closed Office Doors
It’s all very interesting! I would think that I would miss cubes but I can see how one would! (BTW I do have my own office now and the door is always open)