What’s the hardest thing about your work environment?

I worked in biomedical research in a university In 2006 we moved from an old building, with separate labs and small offices, to a new purpose-built building. This was a big retrograde step for my well-being. The lab space was open plan, one area opening onto others and the office space was also open plan, essentially tiers of 'shelves' (one for each floor- 5 floors) with desks opening onto a huge atrium space that went up the height of the building. It was like being in a goldfish bowl, with glass walls everywhere. It was also a hot-desking environment. I took to taking 15-20 minute breaks, either in the disabled toilets, on the stairs up to the roof (where no-one went) or in the plant space on the top floor (though this was noisy), just to escape the constant feeling of being overlooked and to retain my sanity. Thankfully, for the last eight years of my working life I had my own office, which allowed me to work through to a time when early retirement was feasible. 

I worked in biomedical research in a university In 2006 we moved from an old building, with separate labs and small offices, to a new purpose-built building. This was a big retrograde step for my well-being. The lab space was open plan, one area opening onto others and the office space was also open plan, essentially tiers of 'shelves' (one for each floor- 5 floors) with desks opening onto a huge atrium space that went up the height of the building. It was like being in a goldfish bowl, with glass walls everywhere. It was also a hot-desking environment. I took to taking 15-20 minute breaks, either in the disabled toilets, on the stairs up to the roof (where no-one went) or in the plant space on the top floor (though this was noisy), just to escape the constant feeling of being overlooked and to retain my sanity. Thankfully, for the last eight years of my working life I had my own office, which allowed me to work through to a time when early retirement was feasible.