What kind of office do you have?

[Laura B]

Wendy's post about work vs. prison and Tyra's reponse that she has to share a cubicle made me wonder what type of work environment most of us have. Do you have your own office, work in the jungle of cubicles, or work from home (you lucky duck)?

[lorilei]

Hmm... Well, I have a nice, roomy cubicle up against a wall with a window. So, I guess I can't complain too much. :D

But I am right next to the copy machine, so I get all the noise and foot traffic. :rolleyes:

[tbb113]

Originally posted by Laura B
Wendy's post about work vs. prison and Tyra's reponse that she has to share a cubicle made me wonder what type of work environment most of us have. Do you have your own office, work in the jungle of cubicles, or work from home (you lucky duck)?

Like I said on Wendy's thread, I share a cubicle. I'm a contractor working at a client site and they don't have enough room for us all. Most of us are doubled up.

See, it can be worse ;) :rolleyes:

[jtoepfert100]

Just a desk but I work out front all by myself. People do walk through but there aren't many of us so it's sort of like having my own room. I'd prefer an office because I'm pretty private but the job is good so I'll take what I got.

[Escher]

I can honestly say I am blessed.

I am in a segregated (non-passthrough)room shared with 4 other people. (all peers). Our desks all are in a inward-facing ring forming a communal environment that is condusive to chatting.

The room has a rounded, south-facing wall overlooking the river, and since my desk is on the north side, I face all the open windows... I watch sailboats and river barges glide by all day long from my fifth story perch.

I really couldn't ask for anything better... friendly coworkers, not a cube-environment, great view, interesting architecture, I've got it all!

PS, as I type, the lady who waters all our plants is happily humming along!

_Insert Chorus music here_

[aggie94]

Our building is oval-shaped, so there aren't really corner offices. Attorneys all have offices on the perimeter, with windows, but partners get bigger offices than associates. My office is big enough to accommodate my credenza, a large desk, a computer cart, a smallish refrigerator, a bookcase, a 3-drawer filing cabinet, and 3 chairs, but it's becoming close quarters in here!

[MISSINDI]

I have corner office with three windows, all mine but small. There's also a separate office attached to mine for one of my assistants. She's got a few windows too, but also shares the space with all my files. ;) Interesting thread.

[RebeccaT]

I have an office with a door and everything! ;) But no windows. I used to have a window, but I lost it when we changed buildings. :( My office is pretty big, though, with room for a modular desk with two workspaces, a computer, printer, file cabinet, chair for guests, bookcase, and whiteboard. And a little tree. :)

[LaraW]

I have an office with a window. I would actually prefer a smaller office, as I have a lot of wasted space in here, but oh well. ;) I have a large desk, a computer desk, 2 filing cabinets, 2 chairs for other people to sit in, and a small table between those chairs.

[hlao23]

Cubicle farm here...but I mostly like it. There are only 6 of us in our section of the office and we all get along. It's not an ideal situation for me b/c I tend to be overly social (well...we all are) and there's just always so much interesting stuff to overhear and discuss. :D

[Melman]

I have a huge office with a window. It's pretty awesome. I am completely thrilled with this window especially after my last office. The last office was about the size of a small closet with the "fixed" furniture situated in a way that I faced a corner. Anyone coming in the doorway would catch me off guard because my back was always to it. Considering my job is "training and technical support", having an office too small to have a visitor was not conducive to what I was supposed to be doing. It was the pits. My office is now large enough for a small party. :D I'm very thankful!!! (I also changed departments but that's another story in itself! :D :D :D)

[colleency]

I have the largest cubicle in the company, but that's because a lot of hardware gets stored in here with me, and I have beaucoup de testing equipment.

I can sort of see a patch of sky through someone's office, and he lets me look out his window whenever I like. Of course, the view is just the parking lot.

[jtoepfert100]

Originally posted by MISSINDI
I have corner office with three windows, all mine but small. There's also a separate office attached to mine for one of my assistants. She's got a few windows too, but also shares the space with all my files. ;) Interesting thread.

Okay, your assistant has windows, too? On top of all the stuff you mentioned in the Admin Asst's Day Thread? More and more, I realize I am destined to move to Jersey to become your assistant (now, and when you open the cafe). I promise, I'm a good one!;) :D

[HeidiD]

I have a corner office with four windows, BUT it's in a drafty Colonial-era house with sloping floors and I share it with two other people! We are right across from a living history museum so we get lots of field trip traffic going by our windows. We are just one block back from the harbor so that's nice in the summer but in the winter, we get pounded by on-shore winds. It's the least "office-like" office I've ever worked in and I like it.

[MiMo]

I work from home. I do consider myself a lucky duck. However, my home "office" is my dining room, so I'm looking forward to buying my first house next year so I can have both an actual office and a dining room.

[Kathy B]

If it is a patient care day, which most of them are, I occasionally sit at a bedside table to chart (which may be located in or outside the patients room) or if someone is using the table, I stand at the counter and do it. Otherwise, I am pretty much up and moving, no office in sight.

If I have paperwork from my committees to do, there is a desk/computer in a fairly large office with no windows that is alloted for that use which several of us share. Two other people are in there full-time, but they have their own desks/computers.

It's fine with me, because I prefer to be up and around as opposed to sitting, but if I HAVE to do a lot of paperwork, there is a place I can go.

[Jazzmatazz49]

I'm an elementary teacher in one of those open schools (no walls to divide the classrooms). It's a holdover from days gone by when some genius thought that was the way to improve education. So I'm very lucky that my "room" is in one of the 4 corners of the building. That gives me 2 walls and a shred of privacy for my students. I even have one of the 4 windows in the building.

[mbrogier]

I don't work--but before y'all feel all sorry for me--I get to go to the hospital for lots of nasty procedures. Yea me!

I couldn't vote for my husband this time. His company has grown so large that his team had to move to the basement. They bought black lights and bean bag chairs. I told him that he should buy everyone a red stapler and have a roach bomb in the middle of the floor just so everyone feels at home. :D These arrangements are just temporary until their new building is built. The building is being held up by federally protected weeds. :rolleyes:

[Jazzmatazz49]

Originally posted by mbrogier
They bought black lights and bean bag chairs. I told him that he should buy everyone a red stapler and have a roach bomb in the middle of the floor just so everyone feels at home. :D These arrangements are just temporary until their new building is built. The building is being held up by federally protected weeds. :rolleyes:

I'm sure he doesn't think this is funny, but your post cracked me up.

[CompassRose]

I'm in a corner office, with a door, and a window (though the window just looks out into the "admin" area outside). Go me, right? Well, no; it's a small office, and it is divided in two with a recycled piece of cubicle, and I share it.

It's actually fine; I've had lots worse. (The very worst was the makeshift office formed by the intersection of two cube walls and a real wall, with a table jammed in there for me.)

I have no idea what I did to merit any kind of office at all in our last move. But space allocation in our department is desperately stupid, as they try to stuff everyone into satellite buildings that were never meant to hold anything more than a token complement of administrative staff.

[tamawrite]

Originally posted by jtoepfert100
Just a desk but I work out front all by myself. People do walk through but there aren't many of us so it's sort of like having my own room. I'd prefer an office because I'm pretty private but the job is good so I'll take what I got.

Are you me? :p :D I'm not the receptionist, but my desk is situated so that everyone thinks I am. :rolleyes: At least I have lots of windows. I just hate trying to convince some people that even though I sit in the front office/lobby, I am an agent, d@mn it!

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by jtoepfert100


Okay, your assistant has windows, too? On top of all the stuff you mentioned in the Admin Asst's Day Thread? More and more, I realize I am destined to move to Jersey to become your assistant (now, and when you open the cafe). I promise, I'm a good one!;) :D

Hey, I'm ready when you are! You know we'd have a blast. :D

[KathrynY]

I have my own office, with no windows other than a large glass wall out to the adminstrative area but .... my group is moving in the next month or two. And all indications are that I will have my own office with an exterior window in the new space! :)

[imloulou]

I work from home, at a desk, in a corner with 4 windows looking out at my garden, the kids pool (an 8 food galvanized cow trough...lol!) and many birdfeeders. I love my office! I will be on the phone and see a cardinal 2 feet away and gasp...I have to watch myself when I am on the phone:D

[Arete]

I have a big office (only the CEO and CFO have larger ones) with a window overlooking downtown and the Rocky Mountains. It's a great view and I love watching the storms come in over the mountains. What I don't love is that I am next door to the CEO (my boss) and rather than use the phone, he always just hollers out questions to me. It's kind of amusing at times, but I'm always telling him 'Hey John, see that thing between us? It's called a WALL. It impedes sound.' But he just laughs and then hollers another question about 5 minutes later!

[EsteemSamurai]

I don't have an office, desk, cube, or space all my own. :o Because my job is primarily client-service oriented, and we're often at client sites, we all hotel-in when we're in the office. So, when I go in, I have to register and sign-out a desk. The office space is quite lovely, though. All of the partners are on the interior offices, so the remaining space for associates, senior associates, and managers are open-air cubes surrounded by huge windows looking out over the City. I really don't mind the not having my own space, except when the client files get large and unweildly.

That's when my car becomes my office. ;)

[slknight]

I work from home. :D My office is in the basement family room which is walkout, so I have a big sliding glass door next to me so I can see into the backyard. Sometimes it feels like a dungeon but I think that's just because I have to work. The hard part is when DH and DS are out in the yard and DS comes up to the glass door and wants me to come out and play.

[MusicMom]

Originally posted by slknight
I work from home. :D My office is in the basement family room which is walkout, so I have a big sliding glass door next to me so I can see into the backyard.

Me, too except for the sliding glass door part. I do have windows and can see our lilac bushes from my desk. The lilacs are pretty when they're in bloom.

I don't get much traffic during the school year, but in the summer I have to be a lot more disciplined. At least my kids are old enough to know to keep their visits with me short, so I can knock off early and take them to the pool. :)

[eas11]

Originally posted by lorilei
Hmm... Well, I have a nice, roomy cubicle up against a wall with a window. So, I guess I can't complain too much. :D



Same here. In fact, I prefer this cube and our 6 person "cube-zone" to my former private office in our old location. The office was nice with a wall of windows, but isolated, poor climate controlled, and because only 3 of us had offices, lots of stuff was stored there.
In our cube zone, we work better together!

[SusanPC]

I have an office with three windows and part of my wall that faces interior is glass, with a good portion of it frosted so I can have some privacy. It isn't the largest office but I have an L shaped Desk, book cases and two chairs for visitors. It is nice (although I would much rather work from home!)

[imloulou]

Originally posted by MusicMom


I don't get much traffic during the school year, but in the summer I have to be a lot more disciplined. At least my kids are old enough to know to keep their visits with me short, so I can knock off early and take them to the pool. :)

Us Exactly...the pool doesn't open until 12:00 so I work in the morning and we play in the afternoon.

[Gracie]

I have a reasonably-sized office with a real door but made out of cube walls. So the walls of my office stop about 18 inches from the ceiling. This means that even with the door closed there is no such thing as privacy. I have an exterior window for the first time in my life but the best part is that it opens!! I have 1 guest chair and an L-shaped desk.

Loren

[fancyn]

I have a corner office with real walls, windows, and a door, however it is never shut. The term privacy does not apply to my job. I think there is a magnetic force that grabs people as they walk by. Anyway, this is my first office and it's large enough to accomodate my desk, bookshelves, several filing cabinets, a tv, several guest chairs and all of my baby gear. We have a swing, a play gym, the pack n' play, and a saucer.... Only a few more weeks for Nicholas to keep accompanying me. He's being "phased" out to a babysitter. :( I'm trying to enjoy the time we have together, because wants he's completely out, the true work starts again....

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by fancyn
and all of my baby gear. We have a swing, a play gym, the pack n' play, and a saucer.... Only a few more weeks for Nicholas to keep accompanying me.

Sounds like my office about a year ago. My Nicholas spent his first year coming to my office in the mornings, until my DH got off of work. It was great having him here, and I think everyone enjoyed seeing his first year, with all the milestones. :)

[jabelt]

I have a fairly large office with windows, unfortunately the view isn't all that great. The really cool thing is that I have my own bathroom. The really uncool thing is the pink wallpaper from the 1970's that surrounds me. At least I've been able to get rid of the oh-so gawdy pink victorian furniture that was in here.:rolleyes:

[linsleyd]

The office I am in now has two windows and it's large enough for an L shaped desk and two visitor chairs and a large wipe board.
My last job was like Melman's in that I faced a wall and my office was the size of a closet. Not a good situation when dealing with students and they walk in on you and stand there. Very frustrating!

[KimE]

I have a large cube and one whole side is windows. I have enough space to have a nice bookshelf with family pics, and various things, I even have 2 chairs in it.
Everyone use to joke with me about my "home" space and soon I will be putting up curtains and pillows on the chairs. I love it, it is warm and is much easier for me to work in that kind of enviroment.:p
Kim

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by jabelt
The really cool thing is that I have my own bathroom.

Wow, your own bathroom? Now I'M jealous! :D

[hlao23]

Originally posted by jabelt
The really cool thing is that I have my own bathroom.

Guess you don't need this then (forgive the slight hijack - well...and the content I guess)

HOW TO P00P AT WORK

We've all been there but don't like to admit it. As much as we try to convince ourselves otherwise, the WORKP00P is inevitable. For those who hate p00ping at work, following is the Survival Guide for taking a dump at work.

CROP DUSTING:
When farting, you walk briskly around the office so the smell is not in your area and everyone else gets a whiff but doesn't know where it came from. Be careful when you do this. Do not stop until the full **** has been expelled. Walk an extra 30 feet to make sure the smell has left your pants.

FLY BY:
This is the act of scouting out a bathroom before p00ping. Walk in and check for other p00pers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again. Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

ESCAPEE:
This is a **** that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing a p00p in a stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of embarrassment. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it. Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter in the urinal, pretend you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee. It is uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both parties feel uneasy.

JAILBREAK:
When forcing a p00p, several farts slip out at a machine gun pace. This is usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do not panic. Remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom to spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

COURTESY FLUSH:
The act of flushing the toilet the instant the p00p hits the water. This reduces the amount of airtime the p00p has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

WALK OF SHAME:
Walking from the stall, to the sink, to the door after you have just stunk the bathroom. This can be a very uncomfortable moment if someone walks in and busts you. As with farts, it is best to pretend that the smell does not exist. This very uncomfortable walk can be avoided with
the use of the COURTESY FLUSH.

OUT OF THE CLOSET P00PER:
This is a colleague who p00ps at work and is daRN proud of it. You will often see an Out Of The Closet P00per enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine under his or her arm. Always look around the office for the Out Of The Closet P00per before entering the bathroom.

THE P00PING FRIENDS NETWORK (P.F.N):
A group of co-workers who band together to ensure emergency p00ping goes off without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of Out Of The Closet P00pers, and identify SAFE HAVENS.

SAFE HAVENS:
A Safe Haven is a seldom-used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will reduce the odds of a p00per of your sex entering the bathroom.

TUURD BURGLAR:
This is someone who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that can occur when taking a p00p at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until the TUUrd Burglar leaves. This way you will
avoid all uncomfortable eye contact.

CAMO-COUGH:
A phony cough that alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are in a stall is called a Camo-Cough. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON, or to alert potential TUUrd Burglars. The Camo-Cough is very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE


ASTAIRE:
An Astaire is a subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential TUUrd Burglars that you are occupying a stall. This will all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an Astaire, leave the bathroom immediately so the p00per can p00p in peace.

WATERMELON:
A watermelon is a big p00p that creates a loud splash when hitting the toilet water. This is also an embarrassing incident. If you feel a Watermelon coming on, create a diversion. See CAMO-COUGH.

HAVANA OMELET:
A case of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet water. Often accompanied by an Escapee. Try using a Camo-Cough with an Astaire.

UNCLE TODD:
An Uncle Todd is a bathroom user who seems to linger around forever. This person could spend extended lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An Uncle Todd makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait to p00p when the bathroom is empty. This benefits you as well as other bathroom attendees.

Hope the Survival Guide helps, as the WORKP00P is an inevitable part of life....
> >

[rburganmckinley]

I have an office with a door and a window. But... The window looks out onto the manufacturing floor. Need another category for interior window. It even has blinds and everything (you know, to block out that sun from... oh wait there is no sun indoors!). It feels like a fish bowl or a zoo. Everyone that walks by must look in. BUT, I have an office with a door that I don't have to share, and I'm really not sure how I managed to snag one of those. There aren't too many of those left around here. But I think it's better to not have an exterior window, too many distractions that way! :D

[greysangel]

I am in a cubicle but am pretty alone. It's a little horseshoe configuration and the space next to me is empty. Behind me is a wall of file cabinets (lawyers need many many file cabinets :D ) and to the left is a 3 quarter high wall with overhead cabinets. The front wall is I think around 4' high which is higher than most standard "open floor" office plans so it's pretty quiet which suits me fine.

[LonghornGal]

Last week I had a 2 foot section of shelf about 7 feet up on a wall.

Got to the new work location and they'd cleaned out a corner for me, including a desk where I can keep files! woo-hoo!

But in reality, I never spend much time in the office so it would be a wasted space if I got more room. My desk space is mainly a place to park my stuff and review financial numbers in (relative) peace.

[greatcook]

I only have a desk but we have great windows that cover a whole wall of the room... I used to have a cubicle with no windows in sight at my last job and this is much better!

[mbrogier]

Hlao--I thought that was funny. (yes, I find bathroom humor amusing sometimes)

My husband has a manager in his company that had a F ART machine in the bathroom by his desk. He'd use it especially if women came out of that bathroom. My husband said he's removed it. I can't believe someone like this is a manager. It must be the promoting to the level of least competence and damage control. :rolleyes: :o

[Slflyt]

There are two of us and we have one huge room. I have my desk on one side of the room and my co-worker has his desk on the other side of the room. There are windows on two sides of the room. Otherwise, the room contains tons of big printers, laminators, cutters, etc. Somehow it is still cozy with shelves filled with books and nice carpeting.

[newcook]

I share a nice large office with lots of windows but they face a wall, so there is no real view. The funny thing is that my little dog who comes to work with me has one of the largest offices in the place all to herself, with lots of windows (same view though). Her office is probably double the size of mine, and she doesn't have to share it!

Daniele

[annagins]

My office is a huge, sunny (usually messy) room full of toys! :) My associate often climbs on my chair (when I'm in it), talks loudly and throws stuff. Hard to get much work done. Good thing no one is paying me!

[MISSINDI]

Originally posted by annagins
My office is a huge, sunny (usually messy) room full of toys! :) My associate often climbs on my chair (when I'm in it), talks loudly and throws stuff. Hard to get much work done. Good thing no one is paying me!

LOL - :D The best kind of office! ;)

[hlao23]

Originally posted by mbrogier
Hlao--I thought that was funny. (yes, I find bathroom humor amusing sometimes)

:)
Actually I'm just glad people are still replying to the thread...thought I'd killed it with that one.:o

[AvrilH]

Originally posted by aggie94
Our building is oval-shaped, so there aren't really corner offices. Attorneys all have offices on the perimeter, with windows, but partners get bigger offices than associates. My office is big enough to accommodate my credenza, a large desk, a computer cart, a smallish refrigerator, a bookcase, a 3-drawer filing cabinet, and 3 chairs, but it's becoming close quarters in here!

SOmething tells me you are not a government lawyer. :)

I have an office, but the "windows" are two walls that have hallways on the other side. They have vertical blinds, but they aren't great. One window is on the busiest hallway in the whole joint, so there's a lot of foot traffic, including some people that tap on the window as they go by.

Yuck