68.        I agree that physical workspace can affect morale and productivity and that. as a
result, employees should have a significant voice in how their work areas are designed.
However, the speaker suggests that each employee should have full autonomy over his
or her immediate workspace, i think this view is too extreme, for it ignores two
important problems that allowing too much freedom over workspace can create.
      On the one hand. I agree that some aspects of workspace design are best left to the
individual preferences of each worker. Location of personal tools and materials, style
and size of desk chair, and even desk lighting and decorative desk items, can each play
an important role in a worker's comfort, psychological well-being, concentration, and
efficiency. Moreover, these features involve highly subjective preferences, so it would
be inappropriate for anyone but the worker to make such choices.
      On the other hand. control over one's immediate workspace should not go
unchecked, for two reasons. First, one employee's workspace design may
inconvenience, annoy, or even offend nearby coworkers. For example, pornographic
pinups may distract some coworkers and offend others, thereby impeding productivity,
fostering ill-will and resentment, and increasing attrition—all to the detriment of the
company. Admittedly, the consequences of most workspace choices would not be so tar-
reaching Still, in my observation many people adhere, consciously or not, to the adage
that one person's rights extend only so far as the next person's nose (or ears. or eyes). A
second problem with affording too much workspace autonomy occurs when workspaces
are not clearly delineated—by walls and doors—or when workers share an immediate
workspace. In such cases, giving all workers concurrent authority would perpetuate
conflict and undermine productivity.
      in conclusion, although employees should have the freedom to arrange their work
areas, this freedom is not absolute. Managers would be well-advised to arbitrate
workspace disputes and, if needed, assume authority to make final decisions about
workspace design