Out in the open

Some offices still consist of an army of desk, lined up in formation on a wide open parade square, with everyone forced to work under the constant pressure of overhead strip lighting. This is not an office that is likely to promote the health of its employee, create an environment for clear thinking, or win genuine respect for the management.

If you are given a desk in the middle of the floor, your back will be on an open "corridor" along which people are passing. Your back will be vulnerable to bumps and your nervous systme will always be on the alert. With desks in front and on either side, chances are that both your creativity and your concentration will suffer.

If this is your only chance for a job, you may have to accept it. But for your own sake, don't plan on staying there for long!

If possible, don't work in an office that has a bathroom/toilet opening directly on to the main work area, either. This arrangement stems from office managers wanting to keep an eye on staff spending long periods in the bathroom/toilet. This kind of attitude is still around: it is bad for staff morale and a very poor arrangement from the Feng Shui point of view.

Water is always a problem in the world of Feng Shui. It is better to have a completely separate area for anything involving water since it can have such a potent effect on the surroundings. If you want to have a sink in your work area or a place for making tea and coffee, the best advice is to consult a Feng Shui expert before installing the facilities.

A photocopier sets up a considerable disturbance in the energy field and, particularly if it is a large one and in use a great deal of the time, should be put in a room of its own or in an area separate from normal offices and desks.

Applying Feng Shui to an office workstation

The problem of the open-plan office has been recognized to some extent, and people are being offered workstations with some privacy. Supposing you are lucky enough to get a space beside the window. Your space is marked out with partitions. You have to fit in a desk and desk chair, a visitor's chair, a filing cabinet, and a computer stand. Think of the partitions as walls and the entry space as the door (except you could change the door position) - assume the flow of energy will be basically the same as in a normal room. Use The Five Animals template and the information to determine the best location for the various items.