Some Apple Park Employees Said to Be Dissatisfied With Open Office Design

[WRXHokie]

During a new episode of The Talk Show on Daring Fireball, John Gruber touched on the topic of the open floor plans that Apple has implemented within its new campus, Apple Park. Unlike office spaces at One Infinite Loop and other Apple-owned buildings -- which give most employees their own office -- Apple Park sports a large open floor plan with long tables for programmers, engineers, and other employees to work at.

Apple Park's open office spaces have been highlighted in numerous profiles on the campus, most recently by The Wall Street Journal in July, and now Gruber has reported that he's received emails from numerous Apple employees who are particularly dissatisfied with the design (via Silicon Valley Business Journal).

Standing desks within one of Apple Park's open offices​

One source is said to have been with the company for 18 years. They emailed Gruber, telling him that they're working on something that is "going to blow people's minds when we ship," but before that happens their team is transitioning to Apple Park. Gruber noted that the email was very level-headed and had a "perfect Apple sensibility," but the source nevertheless said that if they don't like the Apple Park workspaces, they're likely to leave the company after the product ships.

Gruber said he got a "couple of similar emails," with employees stating that they won't outright quit before they move to Apple Park, but if it's as bad as they think it's going to be then they will consider leaving Apple. During the podcast, Gruber and special guest Glenn Fleishman pointed out numerous disadvantages to an open work space, particularly for coders and programmers who aren't used to a lot of foot traffic and noise in their vicinity while they work.

Gruber went on to mention Apple vice president Johny Srouji as one of the employees dissatisfied with the Apple Park office spaces. Srouji was allegedly so against the changes that Apple "built his team their own building" outside of the main spaceship building.
The idea that open work spaces at Apple Park could potentially "irk" employees goes back to some of the original profiles on the building. Last year, Bloomberg explained that there will be "few traditional offices" at Apple Park, and management will have to be at a vice president level or above to get their own formal office space, although there is reportedly potential for employees below this level to be eligible. During the company's presentations to the Cupertino city council, Apple's viewpoint indicated an open floor plan is "conducive to collaboration between teams."

In other Apple Park news, some Snapchat users have recently noticed that a handful of construction workers and visitors at the campus have been taking enough snaps to accumulate into a Snapchat Story of its own. If you're on the app, you can search "Apple Park" from the main screen to find the Story. The new "Snap Map" also shows an increase in picture-taking activity at Apple Park.

Apple Park opened to the first round of employees over the summer, and the campus will eventually house close to 12,000 workers. Over the past few years, drone footage has consistently documented construction on the site, originally referred to as Apple Campus 2, with more recent updates focusing on the advancements made to the area's landscaping and the Steve Jobs Theater.

Article Link: Some Apple Park Employees Said to Be Dissatisfied With Open Office Design

If you've ever worked in an open office environment like this, you know how horrible they are for employees. They are the worst for productivity.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

I also understand this hate against over-designed office work spaces that distract from work. This also reminds of the Pixar Campus. Pretty sure it would give Jony Ive a headache but it really looks like a great place to work.

"We don't try to police the environment," says Payne. "Everybody here really takes ownership to their space." (Pixar pays for the basic structures — walls, basic desks, chairs, and computer equipment, etc. — but the animators are financially responsible for how they decorate inside them.)

Source: Buzzfeed

LIKE TIMES A QUADRILLION!!!

If it's not fun, why do it. But the American Dream (TM) is all about economic slavery, working for 'the man' and, ironically shopping at a place that actively supports that version of the 'Dream'.

When I was walking around the existing Apple Campus, I was amazed at the stuff I saw through the windows. It looked like a really nice place to work, as opposed to so many of the hell holes that I've worked at in my life. One office had a huge Stone Brewing neon sign. How cool was that...

 

[Ghost31]

Welcome to the real world, pampered Apple employees! That office space looks pretty luxurious (and spacious!) compared to many I've worked in. For most of us, the days of private offices - or even cubicles - are long gone.

In any case, it's Apple we're talking about here. There'll be no shortage of qualified candidates lining up to take their jobs if they can't handle such hardships!

You would be a terrible boss. Not caring about how employees feel because "they're so replaceable. If they don't like it they can leave!" Is exactly the kind of attitude we need to get rid of

 

[editguy17]

I don't understand this push towards open floor plan offices.

It's a BS practice used by employers who cite studies that open floor plans are conducive to better working environments. The real reason is the boss wants to see that everyone is working non-stop. Open floor plans are actually a distraction, and reduce productivity.

 

[ineedamac]

All Apple Park employees will suddenly get free Beats Studio Wireless headphones to block out the noise while working.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

If you've ever worked in an open office environment like this, you know how horrible they are for employees. They are the worst for productivity.

I found this part interesting: "particularly for coders and programmers who aren't used to a lot of foot traffic and noise in their vicinity while they work."

I wasn't aware that Apple still did any in-house programming... ;-)

 

[mrzz]

This is one of their greatest mistakes they have made with the building. Recent trend is going completely opposite way and they know very well why they are returning back to smaller rooms. As a Telco consultant I'm located mainly in customer's buildings with open space premises and sometimes it's extremely difficult to focus on my work as there is practically constant noise around and no time during the day when somebody is not talking, having a call etc. I had to buy a noise cancellation headphones which kind of helped, but this is not an ideal solution as I can't listen to a music whole day long, even on low volume. After 8-10hrs in the office my head is almost "exploding". I'm more than convinced, that you can't be real productive for a longer time in a noisy room when you have to be focused on complex problems. Many Apple employees will be really thankful them for such a stupid decision. Sure, it has some benefits as well, but disadvantages hugely prevail..

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

All Apple Park employees will suddenly get free Beats Studio Wireless headphones to block out the noise while working.

Or Bose... =8-O

 

[zama36]

As someone who has gone through two transitions from offices to open space at two different companies, I've seen open spaces fail miserably at both companies.
First company, because of the short sightedness whole sections of building floors were closed off and devs were doubled up in cubes in other sections of the buildings because of the need to secure projects and prevent leaks from employees who weren't involved in the projects.
The second company created beautiful open spaces, but because of the noise from conference calls, people laughing, extra. As time progressed, fewer and fewer people actually came into the office to the point where the office really became a ghost town.

 

[brianvictor7]

I was initially skeptical when my own company moved to an open office design. I've grown to like it. It is easier to collaborate (or even socialize if the occasion rises). The Apple employees will get used to it.

 

[HighDesert50]

I'm a little surprised that Apple did not incorporate 'smart glass' allowing individuals to change the glass from transparent to translucent.

 

[D.T.]

I've seen some open designs be effective, even in software development (across a wide range of categories: web, mobile, AR/VR, game, and companies from a handful of employees to $B+ people farms ...) but there's a very specific way it has to be [continually] managed, some methodologies integrate well, other not so much, corporate culture plays heavily into it, personality plays a large role, clearly there are activities that aren't conducive to a really open environment that should [will?] be performed in spaces with some isolation (demos, calls), and also in that capacity, some roles should not be in the open space.

There's good, bad - as a developer/engineer (of 25+ years), I've done a few stints in this type of workspace (one of my companies did a rare onsite gig) and found it pretty OK, but the company, work, etc., was very collaborative - other times, I could see smaller, more singularly focused efforts being less effective - I work from a home office 99.9% of the time, but I get tunnel vision quickly, so I actually like a little background noise.

 

[kdarling]

Apple has hit bottom now.

I remember twenty years ago, back when as a top developer in a fairly rare field, I was being wooed by several major companies.

A huge Japanese corporation flew me out to southern California, and was ready to hire me. Then they showed me their work environment... floor after floor of open cubicles with very short walls, so that the managers in corner offices could easily see who was doing what.

The HR person turned to me and said, "We'll pay you pretty much whatever you want". I replied, "You couldn't pay me enough to work in an environment like this!" and that was the end of that.

 

[rowspaxe]

It's a BS practice used by employers who cite studies that open floor plans are conducive to better working environments..

Could anyone believe this? Open office is where less productive employees and low level production associates create a noise floor in which no work can be done. Add in cell phones and the situation is toxic.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

But people aren't seeing this for what it is: Social engineering. Everyone is 'the same'. Everyone is 'a team'.

It's an interesting idea. I think one place I worked that went through a very much needed remodel, had the open work idea, but all of the middle management had huge offices with 10 foot tall doors. Talk about the symbolism.

They ended up hurriedly buying truckloads of cubical wall kits and rushing to install them. It was a nice save, but then they screwed around with the sizes and went back to the whole size matters shtick. It was weird. I ended up with a HUGE printer in my office, and talk about 'foot traffic'.

EDIT: But the ability to block things out has stuck with me from that job. I can work in the noisiest and chaotic environment and not hear a thing. Some of my clients were amazed that I could sit and get my tasks done with all of the noise and commotion. They often had to distract me to get my attention. ZONED IN!!!

 

[Ghost31]

These people are getting paid to work there.
Unless you are working for free, your employer decides the work environment for you; if you don't like it, you are free to leave.

What is with this dismissive tone I keep reading of people not giving a damn how employees actually feel at work when they are there for a good portion of their lives? Like nobody should have a say in how they spend 8-16 hours of their day? Youre all sucking apples teat so much and fanboying over "ohhh they're so lucky to work at apple" that you don't stop and think about what really fulfills people in their lives. If someone isn't happy at their job AND they are really talented, the solution shouldn't be to tell them to just quit. Are we living in a culture of employees being replaceable drones where we shouldn't care what makes them happy? No no just freaking no. Losing some good talent because we didn't listen to them and what they need to be good at what they do is a real shame.

 

[bobbie424242]

Workers should instead be exstatic and honored to stare at the sublime iOpenRoom designed by Jony, with such fine detail evywhere, visible and invisible! The fact that everything has been conceived with so much sub-millimeter detail is much more important that what 'serviceable' workers may think of their work environment.

 

[Ghost31]

These people are getting paid to work there.
Unless you are working for free, your employer decides the work environment for you; if you don't like it, you are free to leave.

People like you forget what makes these companies so great are the employees themselves. Losing great people because you treated them like just another number is not the way a company should be managed

 

[rowspaxe]

I've grown to like it. It is easier to collaborate (or even socialize if the occasion rises). The Apple employees will get used to it.

the occasion arises often. No thanks!

 

[SoN1NjA]

Explained in the body of the story....

Where?

 

[Mr. Dee]

My math says 100 keyboards would be 20 dB louder than a single keyboard, but that doesn't take into account variable distances from each macbook. Based on the number of desks per sq ft its likely a few dB under that.

This means the environment is slight less annoying than a noctua fan a few feet away. But typing isn't the issue. The issue is popcorn. And recaps of fishing trips. And ringtones. And footsteps. And quick questions. And flashing lights.

I have read reports on the MacBook Pro forums from just a few users with the new MBPs at works and they concluded it nearly drove them nuts. If they are all engineers, they will all know when not to disturb each other with personal stories. I am sure walking on carpet floor in sneakers shouldn't make that much noise. If it was floor tiles, tap dancing shoes and stilettos, then there would be a problem.

Considering most users will only be able to use iPhone and they are likely to be at their desk throughout the day; I suspect they will have Airpods on and take calls on their Mac or silence the ringer on the phone.

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Apple has hit bottom now.

I remember twenty years ago, back when as a top developer in a fairly rare field, I was being wooed by several major companies.

A huge Japanese corporation flew me out to southern California, and was ready to hire me. Then they showed the work environment... floor after floor of open cubicles with very short walls, so that the managers could easily see who was doing what.

The HR person turned to me and said, "We'll pay you pretty much whatever you want". I replied, "You couldn't pay me enough to work here!" and that was the end of that.

I had a job where they had a keystroke counter on all of the programmers systems. I was always way out front of all the others for the longest time. It got so bad, they stopped reporting the numbers. I wrote each program a section at a time, and tested it and debugged it before moving to the next section/function. I also wrote most of the more complex programs in use there. Looking back, it was a great job, it was the office politics that poisoned it, and me. I HAD to get out...

 

[harrisondavies]

Oh no, they can’t hide in their plush private offices and play solitaire anymore. Boohoo.

 

[bdkennedy1]

An open working environment is distracting. It's too easy to turn your chair and screw around with someone else. I have a department next to me that is open and it's nothing but laughing and giggling and partying.

 

[X--X]

Hey Apple employees, think different.