Cubicles without doors offer very little privacy to workers.
A cubicle door is designed to make the most of an office space situation. It can be very difficult for many people to work in cubicles due to a lack of privacy, and some find that a door can lessen distractions and interruptions. There’s no way to turn a cubicle into a private workspace with a door because the walls are too low, but a door can prevent unnecessary interruptions and some visual disturbance. Choosing the best cubicle doors for an office is a matter of what features are needed and what supervisors will allow.
The characteristics of the cubicle doors will depend on what the office supervisors allow.
There are a limited number of cubicle door manufacturers because putting a door on a cubicle is generally considered the antithesis of the idea behind cubicle workspaces. Cubicles allow supervisors to constantly see employees and allow employees to be in constant contact with each other, features that are intended to create a positive work environment. A door is generally thought to interfere with this office life strategy, so those who produce cubicle doors often market them directly to office workers, not their supervisors.
Some modern offices use open cubicle layouts to encourage productive collaboration.
Cubicle doors must be removable and storable, as well as non-permanent. They generally need to be stored in the cubbyhole when not in use. They should also have a way to block the door opening, either by standing on the floor or attached to the cubicle walls. If the door is wall-mounted, the door closers must be adjustable or attached to the cubicle with which they are going to be used.
One of the projects involves a fabric banner that is affixed to both walls of the cubicle opening. This banner usually only covers the top of the cubicle. While most fabric cubicle doors are plain, some have designs or messages that ask for privacy during a certain task. This same effect can be achieved by attaching the fabric to the inside edges of the cubicle walls at the opening.
Another popular design involves a folding wall that can be expanded by opening the cubicle up like a door. It is usually bulkier than a fabric door, but can also be taller than a fabric door. The fan-shaped design of the door keeps it upright on the ground, without side supports.
People who run cubicle offices often disapprove of employees opening doors. They may feel that an employee who does this is trying to hide something, is being deliberately antagonistic, or is not working. It is important to find out how management will react to a cubicle door before putting it up, as the door can have negative effects on employment.