Work exposes enough of a person's fears, frustrations and
vulnerabilities. Most of us don't want to be there in the first place,
right? But we also don't want to be homeless, hungry and broke. So, in
order to cope, it helps to create an environment that is conducive to
creating good feelings. Let's face it. A cubicle is not exactly Home Sweet Home.

There is only so much you can do to approach a near sane personal comfort level. Some
people bring in plants, knickknacks or a coffee cup of some special
significance to them. I put up a calendar, a few photos, and sometimes I
change out quotes that serve to inspire or motivate me when I'm having a
bad day.
 
This morning, I found out that somehow our office plans to squeeze in 6
to 7 more employees in the coming weeks. In addition to that, they want
to encourage an increased awareness of office "cross-talk." Our
management announced that they are going to institute lower cubicle
barriers -- replacing the high-walled ones with the type that are more
at desk-level, thus removing even the smallest shreds of privacy that
help some of us to feel more human, and less like gophers.
 
Mmm, nice. As if a cubicle is not bad enough!
 
Someone recently told me that an office set-up with the lower cubicle
barriers is known as the "bull pen" style setting. Sounds about right.

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