Should You Keep or Ditch the Office Cubicles?
Clients, whether they’re startup owners, call center managers, or architects, walk into our office at Paranaque and ask. And these are their common questions:
“Cubicles? Aren’t those outdated?”
“Won’t these cramp our office?”
“Don’t people get isolated?”
“Okay ba ’to for productivity?”
So let’s pull up a chair (inside a cubicle, of course) and talk.
The Old Open-Plan vs. The Cubicle Setup
You’ve worked in an office for some time, and you’ve probably tried the whole open-plan thing, whether you call it shared-office, co-working spaces, flexible offices and what have you. It looks modern, big, shared tables, no walls, all airy and “collaborative.”
But after a while? You start noticing the real story. Someone’s always tapping their pen. Yes, in front of you. Someone’s laughing too loud on Zoom. Someone’s eating pancit canton with extra onion smell.
Ah, and you’re trying to work on something important? Nah, Forget it.
That’s where the office cubicles by GreatWorks come in. Not as some kind of walls to shut you in, but as a way to give people their own controlled workspace without needing a full office.
In fact, a cubicle designed with the right office furniture, from the office chair you sit to the office table you work will give you a balance. Balance to be private and at the same time able to collab.
Why Cubicles?
Simple. They give you boundaries. Real boundaries.
Not like an open floor, where tables sit side by side. Distractions are one shout away. With cubicles, you slice out your own little focus zone. And not only that, they also:
- Reduce noise (if you choose panels with sound-absorbing materials). Mineral wool and acoustic foam are good materials. They work by absorbing sound energy and converting it into heat. Also, fabrics like wool and cotton can also be used for sound absorption
- Give privacy without locking you in an office. Yes, even a 2-meter by 2-meter cubicle would be enough for a little confidentiality(one can’t help but bring in something which might not be work related, you know)
- Let people personalize their space (plants, family photos, your favorite funky band, cat pics. etc)
One BPO client told me, “Since we brought cubicles back, call quality improved. Less background chatter, fewer distractions, and happier agents. BTW, because of the nature of their work, we had installed 180-centimeter-high partition panels.
“But Aren’t They Cramped?”
Not if you plan them right.
Cheap cubicles, the kind you buy for P3,000 from random sellers, feel like phone booths from the ‘90s. But modern cubicles? Totally different.
We’ve installed ones with:
- Wider desks so you’re not elbow-to-elbow with your monitor. The common size requested by clients is 60-centimeters by 120-centimeter. Enough for a work with less paper involved.
- Low partitions for both privacy and visibility. Some BPO managers would want to have a visual connection with the staff, so the need for low height partitions.
- Integrated cable management so no one’s tripping over wires. Standard raceways are located below the panels, but some clients would want mid-raceways, meaning some 10 centimeter above the tables. Mid-raceways are quite easy to configure as the power and data outlets are just in front of the user. There is no need to bend and stick your neck under the table looking for those holes.
- Ergonomic layouts so chairs slide in perfectly without hitting walls
It’s not about cubicle vs. open plan. It’s about how you design the cubicle. When done right, a cubicle setup can even match spaces with conference tables for team discussions or executive chairs for management staff.
Air, Light, and Comfort
Old cubicles had one big sin, they blocked everything. Air, light, even human interaction. I’ve been to one of the government offices and yes while their work may not be that highly confidential (paper shufflers, yea), they have 180-centimeter-high panels.
But these days? You can get breathable fabric panels, glass tops for daylight, and layouts that let aircon flow through.
One Makati law firm wanted privacy but also didn’t want their team to feel like canned 555 sardines. We gave them cubicles with frosted glass upper panels clients couldn’t peek at documents, but sunlight still came in.
Problem solved.
Feeling “Yours” in the Workspace
Here’s one fact. You may think that only dogs are territorial. Nah, me too. People like to have territory, even just a bit of territory.
It’s not about being antisocial. It is about comfort. When you have a place that’s yours, you:
- Focus faster
- Keep your work more organized
- Feel less “on display” all day
An HR manager in Ortigas told me, “Since we moved back to cubicles, sick leaves dropped.” Really? Maybe people just feel more relaxed.
What to Look for in a Good Cubicle Setup
Whether you’re buying 5 or 50, these are worth checking:
- Height – Low enough for air flow, high enough for privacy
- Materials – Fabric for noise, glass for light, laminate for durability
- Layout – Allow at least 1.5m width for desk space and movement
- Power access – Built-in outlets or grommets for clean cable setups
- Flexibility – Panels you can rearrange as your team grows
Who Benefits from Cubicles?
- BPOs & Call Centers – Less noise, better focus, happier clients on the line
- Accounting & Legal Teams – Privacy for sensitive documents
- Creative Teams – Space to spread out without distraction
- Hybrid Offices – Give remote and on-site staff personal space
We once did a setup for a 24/7 call center in Cebu. That was a 30-seater, low panels, soundproofing, and wide desks. Two years later? Still going strong, with just minor touch-ups.
Care and Maintenance
Cubicles aren’t needy. Here are some tips.
- Wipe panels regularly. It is very easy for laminate and glass panels. If you have fabric panels, a little work with soap and old toothbrush will do to remove smudges.
- Vacuum fabric once a month
- Avoid pinning too many heavy things (your three diploma frames can go on the wall, not the cubicle, please)
Should You Try Cubicles?
If you work in a noisy environment or handle sensitive information, or if you want to give you staff focus without full isolation. Then a big yes. It’s worth rethinking the cubicle.
You start small. Install a row. Try. See the difference.
Want Help Choosing?
We’ve designed cubicles for companies from Makati to Cagayan De Oro, from banks to online sellers. If you’re not sure what fits your budget, space, or style, call us.
Whether it’s office tables for your team, executive chairs for your directors, or a conference table that matches your layout, call us.
No hard sell. Just honest advice.
Because bad office layouts? They cost more than you think.