Privacy solutions now top the list of what employees want from the office. Hybrid work adds new decisions to every day, like where to take a video call or find focus time. As a result, people need places to step away from noise and interruptions.
Why Employees Rank Privacy First
Steelcase research found that employees in 11 countries ranked privacy as their top workplace need. Spaces that support wellbeing came in a close second. Researchers see a clear link, because private spaces help people think and feel better.
Meetings also play a bigger role than before. Many offices have moved away from assigned desks, so people have fewer places to take calls without distracting others.
“What’s new is just how many meetings are taking place that add to the distractions in the workplace. People tell us they don’t have enough options for privacy, especially as more workplaces shift away from owned workspaces and toward more shared individual spaces.”
Andrada Iosif, WorkSpace Futures Researcher, Steelcase
Why Small Offices Make Privacy Harder
Many companies are reducing square footage while asking employees to come in more often. Smaller footprints usually mean more open seating and fewer enclosed rooms. As a result, noise rises and focus drops.
Constant noise also wears people down over a full day. Therefore, a smaller office needs privacy solutions that take up very little floor space.
Three Questions That Drive the Need for Privacy
People decide how much privacy they need based on three factors. They often weigh these without even noticing.
What’s Around Me?
People look at the spaces available, how many coworkers sit nearby, and whether the culture allows calls in the open.
What Am I Doing?
The task matters most. Confidential work, deep focus, and long video calls all call for more privacy than quick emails.
How Do I Feel?
Mood and personality also play a role. Some days people need a break from being seen and heard, while others feel energized near teammates.
Matching Privacy Solutions to the Work
The best offices offer a range of privacy, from open seating to fully enclosed rooms. Each level fits a different kind of work. In addition, giving everyone access to that range helps people manage stress on demanding days.
Low Demand: Open Seating With Boundaries
Quick emails and listen-only calls work fine in the open. Screens and acoustic panels mark a person’s space and block visual distractions. For example, Steelcase Flex Personal Spaces pair acoustic panels with height-adjustable desks on casters, so employees can move their worksurface as needs change.
Moderate Demand: Semi-Enclosed Spaces
Sometimes people want to stay near their team but signal heads-down time. Semi-enclosed seating limits distractions while keeping people close to teammates. As a result, employees can focus without fully leaving the group.
High Demand: Phone Booths and Pods
Confidential conversations and deep focus need real acoustic and visual privacy. Orangebox On the QT phone booths give one person a quiet place for calls or virtual meetings. Furthermore, On the QT pods give small teams a ventilated room to meet, and both fit almost anywhere on a floor plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best privacy solutions for a small office?
Phone booths, pods, and furniture with acoustic panels work best in small offices. Each one adds privacy without requiring new walls or much floor space.
Why do employees want more privacy at work?
Hybrid work has increased video calls and shared desks, which raises noise and interruptions. Steelcase research found employees in 11 countries ranked privacy as their top workplace need.
Do phone booths need construction?
No. Freestanding booths like Orangebox On the QT install without building new rooms, so you can place them almost anywhere.
How much privacy does an office need?
Most offices need a mix of open, semi-enclosed, and fully enclosed spaces. That range lets employees match their space to the work they’re doing.
Need Privacy Solutions in Boise, Reno, or Las Vegas?
Create Spaces helps companies plan space and choose commercial office furniture that brings privacy to any footprint. Talk to a workplace expert here.