Cubicles made a comeback in the TV series Severance.
Share this @internewscast.com

Imagine having your own space at work. For most Australians working in corporate offices, it’s a far-off dream.

Around 2.2 million Australians aged between 15 and 24 were employed in July 2025, with most only familiar with the hustle and clamor of open-plan offices.

But there was a time – one older members of the workforce still recall – when the cubicle reigned supreme in offices all over the country.

Cubicles made a comeback in the TV series Severance.
Cubicles made a comeback in the TV series Severance, but could they return to Aussie offices? (Apple TV+)

Gone are the days before hotdesking, when employees were not constantly subjected to the sights, sounds, and smells of a communal workspace, which can significantly hinder productivity.

As companies encourage staff to transition from work-from-home setups back to the office, will 2025 mark Australia’s return to the traditional cubicle layout?

One expert says it’s not entirely out of the question.

The death of the office cubicle

Once an Aussie office staple, cubicles were largely phased out by the 2000s.

They were meant to be an affordable alternative to private offices that still gave employees a sense of space and privacy.

But over time, some employees and employers came to view “cubicle farms” as oppressive and isolating.

Office cubicles
Once an office staple, cubicles came to be seen as oppressive and isolating over time. (Getty)

Many adopted open-plan layouts instead.

Open-plan offices, championed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, were intended to promote communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and idea generation among workers.

Or so the theory went.

“Regrettably, the outcomes have not aligned with expectations,” says Dr. Libby Sander, MBA director and Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Bond University, to 9news.com.au.

“Extensive research over the past 15 years conclusively demonstrates that merely placing people in a single space doesn’t lead to those desired results.”

“In fact, it can often do the opposite.”

To work in an open-plan office is to be distracted.

Aussie workers report the constant noise makes it significantly harder to get work done, with some saying they can be distracted 80 times in a single morning.

It doesn’t even need to be a direct distraction, like being asked a question or roped into a conversation, either.

A scene from American TV comedy The Office.
Aussie workers report that open-plan offices are rife with distractions, much like the Dunder Mifflin office in The Office TV series. (NBC)

A study Sander ran found that workers exposed to standard open-plan office noise, even over a short period of time, experienced a 34 per cent spike in physiological stress and a 25 per cent increase in negative mood.

“When you couple that with the interruptions and distractions of people actually coming up and talking to you, or having a meeting next to your desk … it’s very, very difficult for people to do focused and concentrated work,” Sander said.

“They become more withdrawn, even hostile in some cases … because they get very, very frustrated that they just can’t concentrate.”

Research also shows it can take up to 20 minutes to get back on task after being distracted – and that’s bad for business.

It’s part of why so many Aussies have latched onto WFH arrangements and refuse to let go, even years post-pandemic.

The highest paid jobs that let you work from home

The rise of hotdesking and “activity-based working” hasn’t helped either.

While it can work for some industries and roles, even Sander agreed “a lot of people are very unhappy with” having to share desks with colleagues that don’t always clean up after themselves – if they can find a desk at all.

Resurrecting the cubicle – or something like it

With many businesses still trying to coax workers back into the office, now seems like the perfect time to address the layout issues that make staff reluctant to return.

“Companies are starting to realise the impact that noise, distraction and interruption actually has on their employee, which is their biggest expense,” Sander said.

“And that the savings you make in real estate by not giving everyone their own space, or cramming everyone into an open plan space, doesn’t actually pay off in the long term.”

Interior Of Busy Modern Open Plan Office With Staff
According to Sander, “cramming everyone into an open plan space, doesn’t actually pay off in the long term”. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

But the solution isn’t as simple as resurrecting cubicles in every office.

Instead, Sander recommended businesses design office layouts specific to the work employees need to get done.

That could mean cubicles, private offices, or a well-designed open-plan layout with private spaces available.

Some companies have already invested in small, free-standing office “booths” where staff can work without distraction.

It may also mean allowing long-term WFH arrangements; whatever works best for staff just trying to get the job done.

“There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer,” Sander said.

“Because ultimately, you need to have a variety of options for people who have a variety of needs.”

Hybrid workplace, female business professional sitting at desk talking on the phone
Small, free-standing office ‘booths’ can allow staff to work without distraction. (Getty)

And with a looming talent shortage, aging populations and declining birth rates, businesses that don’t try to meet staff needs risk falling behind those that do.

“As we understand more and more the impact of noise and distraction, we are going to see better-designed offices with better acoustics, more dividers, less open-plan space, so people can actually concentrate and get their work done,” Sander said.

“If you’re not doing that, your competitors are already doing it or going to do it, and you’re going to get left behind.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Businessman Adrian Portelli is fighting charges that he and his company ran unlawful lotteries.

“Adrian Portelli Reacts as Unlawful Lottery Trial Kicks Off”

High-profile businessman Adrian Portelli says he has proof his company was “fed…
Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain where people who had just finished performing and observing a weekly ceremony and celebration of culture were attacked by Neo-Nazi's after the March for Australia event.

Additional Allegations Made Against Four Men in Neo-Nazi Incident at Sacred Indigenous Location

Police have charged four more men after neo-Nazis allegedly stormed a sacred…
Sean Forrest with his parents Michael Forrest and Angie Ryan.

University Student Identified as Skier Who Passed Away at Thredbo

A university student has been identified as the skier who died at…

Putin and Xi Caught on Hot Mic Talking About Organ Transplants and Immortality

Key Points Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were overheard discussing biotechnology, organ…

High Court Dismisses Ben Roberts-Smith’s Last Appeal Attempt in Defamation Case

The High Court will not hear an appeal by Victoria Cross recipient,…

Lisbon Funicular Accident: Portugal Mourns Tragic Loss of Lives

Seventeen people have died after the Portuguese capital of Lisbon’s Gloria funicular…

Putin says Ukraine conflict could be resolved through talks — or military action might be taken

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there is a chance to end…
The HMAS Arunta, left, shadows the People's Liberation Army-Navy Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang and a Fuchi-class replenishment vessel in the Tasman Sea, on Feb. 13, 2025.

“Pilot Discovers Chinese Navy Drills: ‘If We Go Missing’ Moment”

Exclusive: Recently released audio recordings have unveiled the reactions of Australian air…

Fourth Individual Charged in Connection with Violent Incident at Camp Sovereignty

Victoria Police confirmed a 29-year-old man from Rye was arrested in Mount…

Late-Night Inquiry Unveils Costs of Nauru Deportation Deal Amid Pressure on PM for More Transparency

Australian taxpayers will be slugged $2.5 billion over 30 years to deport…
'Could have been us': City reels from funicular tragedy

“Heartbreak in the City: Funicular Accident’s Impact”

Portugal’s attorney general’s office announced on Thursday that they have so far…
Bendigo Bank will shut down 10 branches across three states, leaving five regional communities without any financial services.

Leading Bank Forecasts RBA to Keep Interest Rates Unchanged This Month

A major bank has predicted a hold on interest rate reductions as…