Size of an Office Cubicle Work Space
When you prepare for a career, you imagine your ideal career. When you imagine success, you might imagine being surrounded by supportive co-workers and an office with a view of the city. Then, you get you get into your career and most of those dreams come true, except for one. Instead of receiving that corner office, your workspace is a cubicle.
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Average Cubicle Sizes
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Cubicle.com is a website that sells cubicles to businesses. The sizes of the cubicles are 6 feet by 6 feet by 67 inches. This means the cubicle is 6 feet wide, 6 feet deep and 5 feet and 7 inches tall. With a height of 5 feet 7 inches, many tall adults are unable to stand up straight without their eyes peering over the top. With a width and depth of 6 feet, Michael Jordan, who is 6-foot-6l, could not lie down comfortably in his cubicle. The cubicles come equipped with upper and lower level compartments and a built-in desk. This ready-made office is an average-size cubicle. Megan Friedman of Time News Feed reports that some cubicles are as small as 5 feet wide by 5 feet deep.
Changes in Workspace
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In 1987, the average executive's office space was 291 square feet. In 2007, the average executive's office space dropped to 241 square feet. Middle level managers also saw a decrease in workspace. In 1994, the average middle manager's office space was 151 square feet. In 2007, her average office space was 121 square feet, according to the International Facility Management Association. In 1994, the average cubicle contained 90 square feet of work space. In 2010, the average cubicle contained 75 square feet of workspace, according to CBS Boston. The decrease in cubicle workspace affects the largest percentage of the U.S. work force as the IFMA reports that 59 percent of workers have cubicles as offices.
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Potential Reasoning
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As the sizes of work spaces decrease, the space allocated to employee fitness centers, day-care facilities, cafeterias and break area increases. According to the IFMA, the space allotted to conference and break areas has increased by 17 percent since 2002. Are employers sacrificing workspace for more amenities? IFMA research indicates that this may be the case. Employers might also feel that placing workers together into a small space promotes teamwork. Time News Feed reports high-tech companies such as Facebook use cubicles to promote a team environment.
Advantages and Pitfalls to Cubicles
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Some potential advantages to cubicles are organization, camaraderie and potential for increased amenities. A cubicle is such a small space that it almost forces you to stay organized. Also, when you can reach out and touch your neighbor, you are more likely to make a friend at work. On the other hand, some potential disadvantages to cubicles are a lack of privacy and a lack of space.
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References
- Time News Feed; You're Not Imagining It: Your Cubicle Is Getting Smaller; Megan Friedman; 2011
- Cubicle.com: Quick & Easy Cubicles for Less
- CBS Boston; Office Cubicles Are Shrinking; Kate Merrill; March 2, 2011
- International Facility Management Association: In the Modern Workplace, Individual Space Squeezed to Help the Common Good; Karen Ellington; March 20, 2007
- International Facility Management Association; New Research Shows Employers Offering More Amenity Options; Andrea Sanchez; May 22, 2008
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
