Forty million American employees trapped in cubicles. (Reading Digg)

How cubicles escaped their original intention. If we didn't have cubicles, would we still have Dilbert?



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I have been in a cubicle for each of my jobs (not counting a brief fast food stint at 16 and my very first job at 14 as an office gopher). I almost can't fathom a different configuration, though as the article points out - more people are telecommuting. I've worked in a shared office situation at times in my current job, and also out in an open office kind of area - but I have to say - being able to go to my favorite coffee shop (NOT a Starbucks actually, but a locally owned shop not 5 minutes from me) that has free wireless and (yes - I know - unsecured - no WEP - shouldn't be transmitting company secrets) I use it to briefly check my email or get on my VPN connection, it's nice to be able to do that. I also like to be able to connect from home when I get that 11:30PM call to troubleshoot something. And I hope that more unconventional and flexible ways to work develop.