![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744227099\/25-0252668.jpg\")
<\/h2>\nA growing problem<\/strong><\/h2>\nAs people returned to offices, the privacy problem became more acute. In some cases, workplaces hadn\u2019t changed significantly, or at all. In other cases, people were asked to give up assigned desks in favor of more collaboration spaces, and the number of private spaces shrunk. It\u2019s been 11 years since Steelcase first published research about privacy, and work patterns have changed even more. Among the most significant changes are the increase in the number of meetings and the surge of video calls.<\/p>\n
When they\u2019re in the office, 50% of people stay at their desks to join video calls, not only because they are booked back-to-back but also because there\u2019s often no place nearby that offers a higher level of privacy. But, individual workspaces rarely meet people\u2019s privacy needs throughout their workflows. They struggle to focus when doing individual work, effectively collaborate without disturbing others, or simply find respite during the day.<\/p>\n
As distractions have increased, the need for privacy has grown. But this doesn\u2019t mean that organizations should go back to preopen-plan norms and give everyone private offices \u2014 in fact, this won\u2019t meet people\u2019s needs today.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744227319\/25-0252721.jpg\")
Design elements such as screens, shelving and strategically oriented workstations shield employees from distractions in the open plan without isolating workers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nEmployees want variety<\/strong><\/h2>\nAccess to a variety of different space types helps people most, according to research from Leesman, a workplace experience consultancy firm. The Leesman Index, also called the Lmi score, ranges from 0 to 100 and indicates how well the workplace supports employees in their work.<\/p>\n
People with assigned private offices are slightly more satisfied than those with assigned desks in the open plan. But, people are significantly happier, even with an unassigned desk, if they have a range of shared spaces they can choose from.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1745595266\/25-0254113.png\")
* The Leesman Index assesses employees\u2019 experience within their workplace, indicating how well the office design supports work activities and their sense of pride, productivity and community at work.<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPrivacy takes many shapes<\/strong><\/h2>\nPrivacy isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all issue. For most people, the kind of privacy they need ebbs and flows throughout the day as they toggle between different activities. Working individually, people need to focus without distraction, have sensitive conversations without being overheard, participate in a video call without disturbing others, and find a calm place to recharge without leaving the office. Teams need access to places for confidential strategy sessions and spaces to brainstorm and problem-solve without being interrupted or interrupting others.<\/p>\n
These activities require different types of privacy. Addressing these diverse needs requires a holistic solution that goes beyond individual workstations or traditional conference rooms and enclaves. People need access to a range of spaces that provide varying levels of privacy throughout the work environment that cater to both individual and team requirements. But it doesn\u2019t have to be daunting or complicated.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744227284\/23-0213884_16x9.jpg\")
Need to bring in remote team members or work on a confidential project? Enclosed meeting spaces provide acoustic and informational privacy teams need to brainstorm and work distraction-free.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA common frustration in many offices is the lack of available private spaces, especially in workplaces that rely solely on traditional enclosed rooms. However, privacy doesn\u2019t have to be limited to closed-door spaces.<\/p>\n
By incorporating a range of spaces with varying layers of privacy throughout the workplace, organizations can more affordably and more easily meet various needs and preferences that are also more accessible, ensuring people have the right level of privacy for different kinds of work they do throughout their day:<\/p>\n
Acoustical Privacy<\/strong>
\nThe ability to work undisturbed by noise or to create noise without disrupting others.<\/p>\nVisual Privacy <\/strong>
\nEnsuring you\u2019re not visible to others and can avoid distractions caused by what you see.<\/p>\nTerritorial Privacy <\/strong>
\nThe freedom to claim and control a space as your own.<\/p>\nInformational Privacy <\/strong>
\nThe ability to protect the confidentiality of both conversations and analog or digital content.<\/p>\nExploring diverse approaches to personal and team privacy<\/strong><\/p>\nPrivate spaces can be fully enclosed, shielded, or even in the open to support solo work and team efforts.<\/p>\n
In addition to enclosed spaces such as enclaves, pods, meeting and huddle rooms, open spaces can provide varying levels of privacy by adding screens, shelving or other boundary elements and soundscaping to support visual, acoustic, territorial and informational privacy.<\/p>\n
The use of cloaking technology<\/a>, an architectural film for glass walls, can obscure digital screens to outside views. Design elements such as acoustic panels, like Steelcase Flex Active Frames<\/a> and Acoustic Boundary<\/a>; strategically oriented workstations, and high-backed seating can shield employees from distractions. These features blend privacy into open spaces without isolating workers. Enclosed spaces must be thoughtfully distributed across the floorplan to ensure they\u2019re accessible when and where needed most.<\/p>\nEveryone needs privacy, but personal preferences, the space around them, and cultural norms play a significant role in designing the right environments. The ability to control stimuli, especially for those who identify as neurodiverse and need to control sensory experiences better, is also critical. Different settings let people pick the best spot based on what they\u2019re doing, their mood and personality, making privacy feel more personal.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1744227429\/25-0252724.jpg\")
Lounge spaces near workstations make it easy to connect with colleagues for an impromptu meeting or to rejuvenate. Screens create a visual boundary and keep distractions out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMany Ways to Create Privacy<\/strong><\/p>\nPrivacy is essential in today\u2019s work, whether you\u2019re working alone or with a team. And there are many creative ways to achieve it \u2014 it\u2019s not just about enclosed rooms, though those are important too. Here are some ideas for creating a range of spaces in close proximity to one another where people can control their privacy and comfort and easily connect with their peers.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,dpr_auto,q_70,h_656,w_1166\/v1744228492\/22-0178939_16x9.jpg\")
As people returned to offices, the privacy problem became more acute. In some cases, workplaces hadn\u2019t changed significantly, or at all. In other cases, people were asked to give up assigned desks in favor of more collaboration spaces, and the number of private spaces shrunk. It\u2019s been 11 years since Steelcase first published research about privacy, and work patterns have changed even more. Among the most significant changes are the increase in the number of meetings and the surge of video calls.<\/p>\n
When they\u2019re in the office, 50% of people stay at their desks to join video calls, not only because they are booked back-to-back but also because there\u2019s often no place nearby that offers a higher level of privacy. But, individual workspaces rarely meet people\u2019s privacy needs throughout their workflows. They struggle to focus when doing individual work, effectively collaborate without disturbing others, or simply find respite during the day.<\/p>\n
As distractions have increased, the need for privacy has grown. But this doesn\u2019t mean that organizations should go back to preopen-plan norms and give everyone private offices \u2014 in fact, this won\u2019t meet people\u2019s needs today.<\/p>\n Access to a variety of different space types helps people most, according to research from Leesman, a workplace experience consultancy firm. The Leesman Index, also called the Lmi score, ranges from 0 to 100 and indicates how well the workplace supports employees in their work.<\/p>\n People with assigned private offices are slightly more satisfied than those with assigned desks in the open plan. But, people are significantly happier, even with an unassigned desk, if they have a range of shared spaces they can choose from.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Privacy isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all issue. For most people, the kind of privacy they need ebbs and flows throughout the day as they toggle between different activities. Working individually, people need to focus without distraction, have sensitive conversations without being overheard, participate in a video call without disturbing others, and find a calm place to recharge without leaving the office. Teams need access to places for confidential strategy sessions and spaces to brainstorm and problem-solve without being interrupted or interrupting others.<\/p>\n These activities require different types of privacy. Addressing these diverse needs requires a holistic solution that goes beyond individual workstations or traditional conference rooms and enclaves. People need access to a range of spaces that provide varying levels of privacy throughout the work environment that cater to both individual and team requirements. But it doesn\u2019t have to be daunting or complicated.<\/p>\n A common frustration in many offices is the lack of available private spaces, especially in workplaces that rely solely on traditional enclosed rooms. However, privacy doesn\u2019t have to be limited to closed-door spaces.<\/p>\n By incorporating a range of spaces with varying layers of privacy throughout the workplace, organizations can more affordably and more easily meet various needs and preferences that are also more accessible, ensuring people have the right level of privacy for different kinds of work they do throughout their day:<\/p>\n Acoustical Privacy<\/strong> Visual Privacy <\/strong> Territorial Privacy <\/strong> Informational Privacy <\/strong> Exploring diverse approaches to personal and team privacy<\/strong><\/p>\n Private spaces can be fully enclosed, shielded, or even in the open to support solo work and team efforts.<\/p>\n In addition to enclosed spaces such as enclaves, pods, meeting and huddle rooms, open spaces can provide varying levels of privacy by adding screens, shelving or other boundary elements and soundscaping to support visual, acoustic, territorial and informational privacy.<\/p>\n The use of cloaking technology<\/a>, an architectural film for glass walls, can obscure digital screens to outside views. Design elements such as acoustic panels, like Steelcase Flex Active Frames<\/a> and Acoustic Boundary<\/a>; strategically oriented workstations, and high-backed seating can shield employees from distractions. These features blend privacy into open spaces without isolating workers. Enclosed spaces must be thoughtfully distributed across the floorplan to ensure they\u2019re accessible when and where needed most.<\/p>\n Everyone needs privacy, but personal preferences, the space around them, and cultural norms play a significant role in designing the right environments. The ability to control stimuli, especially for those who identify as neurodiverse and need to control sensory experiences better, is also critical. Different settings let people pick the best spot based on what they\u2019re doing, their mood and personality, making privacy feel more personal.<\/p>\n Many Ways to Create Privacy<\/strong><\/p>\n Privacy is essential in today\u2019s work, whether you\u2019re working alone or with a team. And there are many creative ways to achieve it \u2014 it\u2019s not just about enclosed rooms, though those are important too. Here are some ideas for creating a range of spaces in close proximity to one another where people can control their privacy and comfort and easily connect with their peers.<\/p>\nEmployees want variety<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Privacy takes many shapes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\nThe ability to work undisturbed by noise or to create noise without disrupting others.<\/p>\n
\nEnsuring you\u2019re not visible to others and can avoid distractions caused by what you see.<\/p>\n
\nThe freedom to claim and control a space as your own.<\/p>\n
\nThe ability to protect the confidentiality of both conversations and analog or digital content.<\/p>\n
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