Haynes and Boone: 'Green' Offices. 'Orwellian' Controls
The Texas based law firm of Haynes and Boone moved their Dallas operations into a new "green" office today. Despite the laudable initiative, some lawyers and many support staffers have complained about the new "confines." Apparently, personal space is at a premium in the new space. Administrative assistants are particularly annoyed, as they will be moved out of cubicles into an open floor plan, "fishbowl" situation.
In addition to the lack of privacy, Haynes and Boone issued new policies regarding how secretaries use the personal space they still have. Most of the new rules meet an accepted standard of "petty.":
2. There will be a sufficient number of small plants that Gensler will place in appropriate areas around our floors. You may have one 8-inch potted plant in your office or on your desk--none on the ledges.3. Please do not put any objects or plants on ledges or the tops of your cabinets. Two framed pictures and a small candy dish may be placed on your desk, but no beanie babies on desks.
You're moving into new environmentally friendly offices, but you're going to regulate the number and types of plants employees are allowed to have? That's not directly contradictory, but it's certainly annoying.
Additional regulations after the jump.
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