Best Office Environments

[MLLoring]

Hello,

I am a soon-to-be graduate from Kansas State University (Masters of Regional/Community Planning). I have begun the exciting process of searching for firms, cities, organizations, etc. that I would like to apply to work for. In my hunt, I am most interested in dynamic, creative, and enjoyable office environments (think along the lines of what one hears about Google, Amazon, Zappos, etc employees).

I would greatly appreciate advice, stories, or opinions of private firms, public-sector offices, or advocacy organizations that are known to have office environments similar to what was described above.

Thanks for your help!

[mike gurnee]

Take the first offer you get. Work to change the office environment afterwards. Good luck with your search.

[Hink]

Public sector work will never be like google. Can you imagine the outcry if a government spent money on the employees? They get an hour lunch? And it is paid? WHAT? And the taxpayers bought them a ping-pong table? WHAT?

I would imagine there are some creative private sector places that are more in line with what google has done, but because the tea party and many people who think public works are slaves to the job, you will never find anything close to what you will find in the private side.

It does make me laugh to think about the discussions I would have with residents - "I'm sorry, but my City sponsored yoga class went over, and the line to the free buffet was extra long today".



Take whatever you get. Enjoy the job if you can. Look for something that makes you more happy once you have a job.

[dvdneal]

I've always seen good stuff from PMC when I worked in Arizona. It's a least a start, but listen to Mike, take what you can get in this job environment and get experience. I think part of the office environment is what you make it. I worked at one place that had crap for morale because of bad leadership, but we made our own fun where we could.

Also, my wife says go Jayhawks!

[Raf]

Take the first offer you get. Work to change the office environment afterwards. Good luck with your search.

Yea that pretty much sums it up. You make your work environment. There is definitely a difference between public and private sector work environment, but hey you can have fun at both, just gotta know how.

[Cardinal]

The following is the most comprehensive list of public offices that have creative environments:

(none)

The following are some of the private planning firms that offer this kind of environment:

(none)

If you work for a very small firm (1-3 or 4 employees) you might have the opportunity to work in a more interesting environment, like from home, or maybe coworking.

[ColoGI]

Hello,

. I have begun the exciting process of searching for firms, cities, organizations, etc. that I would like to apply to work for. In my hunt, I am most interested in dynamic, creative, and enjoyable office environments !

If you for some strange reason didn't know before you began your search, you will soon learn: the only work environment you will care about in this economy is the one that hires you. You will take whatever you get and tell yourself it is the most bestest dynamic, creative, and enjoyable office environments evahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[nrschmid]

My firm is like Entertainment 720 ("Parks and Rec")

[HomerJ]

I believe a person's level of happiness in an organization is going to depend much more on the people within the organization and will have far less to do with the number of ping pong tables. If you're lucky you will find an organization where you get along well with your coworkers. My office environment is by no means "glamorous", but I am comfortable expressing myself to the people I work with. We can mess around, play pranks on each other, etc. and it makes the day to day stresses far easier to cope with.

You could have the coolest job at the most awesome office with all the trampolines and egg shaped chairs imaginable; if you can't get along with the people you work with life will be miserable.


...that being said, I bet Skidmore Owings Merril LLP's office in Chicago's John Hancock Center is A ...(wait for it)... MAZING!

[MLLoring]

Thanks for your input everyone. Just to clarify some things that might have been slightly misunderstood. I'm not so much looking for things like "ping pong tables" or "free buffets." What I meant by dynamic, creative, and enjoyable office environments is more specifically a reference to the culture of the office.

HomerJ, your comment about the office environment depending on the people is exactly what I am referring to. Surely, you all have worked with first-rate supervisors, co-workers, or employees that you feel were very integral to a positive and enjoyable office environment. Where have these people worked? Are they in those same positions now? Do you know if they have moved to what they perceived as greener pastures? To be honest, I expect to find these types of environments most often at small private firms, but I believe there are plenty of public offices that have a great office culture as well.

So with this additional information, do any of you have any new thoughts?

Thanks again!

[nrschmid]

Have you ever worked an actual job of ANY kind in your life?

Work environments are crap shoots. My first PAID job was at 13 caddying at a country club, and I had at least 8 years of child labor doing chores for my parents under my belt before that. I have worked at well-paying jobs with terrible coworkers, and crappy jobs with difficult clients. YOU are a worker. Employers hire YOU because YOU are human labor and THEY need manpower. You want someone to pay you to use a ping pong table, join a focus group. You want to have a google-esque corporate campus with free roaming sheep, LEED certified toilet paper, and Robin Thicke jam sessions, hire a few venture capitalists and start your own damn hedge fund or join Oregon Football (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/03/sp...anted=all&_r=0). The only work environment you can control is your own company.

[DetroitPlanner]

We recently moved to a 1965 glass and granite tower. Very typical structure for the time. Prior to the crash that hit Detroit pretty hard this space was gutted for condos to be sold at $500 a sq ft. We have a pretty good office environment. Everyone from the Director on down has the same size cubical (about 6'x8'). Now I thought that was going to really suck at first. We moved from a very iconic 1920's pre-crash art deco skyscraper. However it leaves a ton of open space for small meeting rooms (3-5 staff) and conversation areas. The building has floor to ceiling windows and most of it has been left open. We also have white noise generators that kind of work. What has really helped increase flexibility and mobility has been moving from tethered to wireless technology. Gone are large desktop computers to be replaced by wireless laptops. Phones have been replaced by smartphones too. Now you can pick up your computer and move to a small meeting room or a gathering space if you are going to be on the phone long. You also have 90 percent of your office with you when you go places.

The best part of the environment is the view. We can see the River, most of the main drags into an out of town, Comerica Park, Lake St. Clair (the unofficial 6th Great Lake). We exit the building and we are in Campus Martius (a PPS award winner). Sometimes staff meetings are done by gathering up a bunch of movable tables and chairs and holding it on the lawn.

Still no free coffee or slurpees like many of the tech companies in the building though.

Funny you should mention caddying. I did that for about 4 years (8th grade to about 11th), it was a pretty good environment except for when it was real hot or raining. In addition I delivered newspapers (4th-5th grades), worked in a mall, a hospital washing dishes (hot room, yucky), sold t-shirts at rock shows... lots of stuff. Bottom line is you work to make money. I am just glad I never had to work at a slaughterhouse or a stamping plant (BAM BAM BAM!).

[reimaginethis]

I'm sorry for the cynical, snarky, and altogether unnecessarily rude responses some folks have offered you.

I understand your question. I actually read it thoroughly. Yes, there are great working environments where the things you seem to value (i.e. teamwork and creativity) are encouraged. I spent three years working in such an environment. That experience occurred in a small town that was growing and where planning was a whole new concept. My coworkers and I worked closely together 10-12 hours a day to build a work program from almost nothing. It was a fun, creative, and productive atmosphere. We literally shaped a city. I have a friend who works at a regional planning agency and is enjoying a similar working environment. These types of work environments are not typical -- but they're not unheard of either.

Keep your optimism, curiosity, and great attitude as long as you can.

Best of luck to you.

[dw914er]

Hello,

I am a soon-to-be graduate from Kansas State University (Masters of Regional/Community Planning). I have begun the exciting process of searching for firms, cities, organizations, etc. that I would like to apply to work for. In my hunt, I am most interested in dynamic, creative, and enjoyable office environments (think along the lines of what one hears about Google, Amazon, Zappos, etc employees).

I would greatly appreciate advice, stories, or opinions of private firms, public-sector offices, or advocacy organizations that are known to have office environments similar to what was described above.

Thanks for your help!

It would be unlikely that you will find a similar type of atmosphere as those companies, but you can make the best of where you work. The issue really is what market you are in compared to the market those tech companies are in. Working with the public, politicians, and developers on the public side, or working to appease the client, the lead agency, and to find more work when you are on the private side, typically causes a bit more stress and frustration. Plus, planning is not particularly lucrative, so the margins for "fun activities" is pretty limited. And, those companies hire the young new designers and engineers, so you have a youthful energy with those companies that may not be at most planning departments.

Right now, you are probably more at the "I need a job" phase, and given the current climate, you will have to take what you can get. But one, try to notice your interaction with staff during your interviews to see how you "fit" with them, and two, leverage your energy when you are working there and you can find enjoyment. I did that and I enjoy where I am at.

Public sector work will never be like google. Can you imagine the outcry if a government spent money on the employees? They get an hour lunch? And it is paid? WHAT? And the taxpayers bought them a ping-pong table? WHAT?

I would imagine there are some creative private sector places that are more in line with what google has done, but because the tea party and many people who think public works are slaves to the job, you will never find anything close to what you will find in the private side.

It does make me laugh to think about the discussions I would have with residents - "I'm sorry, but my City sponsored yoga class went over, and the line to the free buffet was extra long today".



Take whatever you get. Enjoy the job if you can. Look for something that makes you more happy once you have a job.

Haha

Surely, you all have worked with first-rate supervisors, co-workers, or employees that you feel were very integral to a positive and enjoyable office environment.

I have been very fortunate to work with good supervisors, but the Peter Principle can be observed everywhere.

[hipp5]

Well one of my local planning firms has a few job postings (for LAs and such) that certianly give the impression that they're trying to be Google:

With the prostrate stealth of an Arctostaphylos uva ursi, the intermediate landscape architecture position will cover the full spectrum of the profession; including conceptual design, report writing, 3D design, project visualization, public participation and working drawings/specifications. Applicants must have a bachelors or masters degree in landscape architecture with six or more years of professional experience. If you are a ninja master in the profession with less experience but a portfolio to be worshiped, we might throw you in the running. (...)

Personally, that posting makes me want to vomit, but hey, I guess it might appeal to some people.

Public sector work will never be like google. Can you imagine the outcry if a government spent money on the employees? They get an hour lunch? And it is paid? WHAT? And the taxpayers bought them a ping-pong table? WHAT?

Actually in my public-sector job I do get an hour lunch (unpaid though), and we do have a ping pong table.

YOU are a worker. Employers hire YOU because YOU are human labor and THEY need manpower.

Wow, what a terrible, depressing, viewpoint on employment. No doubt you need to actually work for your employer and give them value for the money they pay you, but that's no reason why you shouldn't seek out a good workplace. Part of the employer meeting their needs for manpower is creating a work environment where manpower wants to go, and where manpower feels compelled to do good work.

[Masswich]

The office environment and culture often follows from the top. Even in a corporate or government culture that is stifling, the right manager can make a work unit dynamic and innovative.

This is something I have thought about a lot as I work on organizational change. Most of my experience is in the public sector. And I have worked in environments that are dynamic and ones that are not. Usually that is a result of the leadership. However, in the public sector it is also something affected by the expectations of the public. Some places expect "boring" work from their planners and some expect "innovative" work.

So feel out the externalities in any work environment, as well as your feel of management's style. Don't get too beaten down too early - although be somewhat realistic that you do need to get that first and second job. And when you have some management role, if you do, become the catalyst of that change.

[Backstrom]

The office environment and culture often follows from the top. Even in a corporate or government culture that is stifling, the right manager can make a work unit dynamic and innovative.

This is something I have thought about a lot as I work on organizational change. Most of my experience is in the public sector. And I have worked in environments that are dynamic and ones that are not. Usually that is a result of the leadership. However, in the public sector it is also something affected by the expectations of the public. Some places expect "boring" work from their planners and some expect "innovative" work.

So feel out the externalities in any work environment, as well as your feel of management's style. Don't get too beaten down too early - although be somewhat realistic that you do need to get that first and second job. And when you have some management role, if you do, become the catalyst of that change.

I don't think public sector managers are really that resistant to changes. If you find a stifling culture, it's probably because the managers simply don't have time to bother dealing with it. In my last public sector job, I had a manager who was very old school, had been in the field a long long time, and was mostly always shut in his office working or in meetings. I think he was just too bogged down with work to care about ping pong tables or crazy-tie Tuesdays or stuff like that, but I don't think he would have opposed it if someone else took that initiative.

[Hink]

Actually in my public-sector job I do get an hour lunch (unpaid though), and we do have a ping pong table.

That would get us crucified around here. I can see the public records requests now for who authorized the expense...

--

I am not trying to be negative towards the dream of an enjoyable workplace environment. I think though that you should be realistic in the public sector. Tax dollars are not only reviewed internally by Staff (who although people don't believe it, care about costs) but by Monday morning Quarterbacks / back seat drivers/ tea party members who scrutinize any expense. You want to get training? Better not go to the site of the training if it is in Hawaii, Vegas, or any other city that also has tourism. That is a waste of government money.

Quality of life issues that the private sector have found provide a more productive workplace are being squeezed out of local governments because they cost money. The hidden costs of the tea party tactics are that local governments are losing talent, spending more on hiring and replacement training, and creating unworkable environments. It seems though that this is the goal. Public sector workers should not enjoy their jobs, should not get retirement, and should not be able to move up in the organization.

The private and public sectors are very different. If you want to be in an environment where you are treated as an asset, and not a liability, then stay in the private sector. As more governments throttle the training dollars, benefits, and portions of public sector jobs that make it worth it (i.e. pension retirement), you will see outsourcing to private sector companies more and more.

All that bad stuff, or our country will go back to supporting the workers and not the CEOs. But I don't think that will happen anytime soon...

[dvdneal]

It's not just the cost of the table, it's the perception that government employees are lounging around playing games on your tax payer's time. There is a definate influence of public perception on public jobs. The public sees what they want which often is the image of the lazy street worker leaning on a shovel. Very few people see the hard work done by many public employees every day without the fringe benefits of a fun workplace. That's why I say the workplace is what you make it. We don't spend extra in my office, but we still have fun where we can. You just have to know what will get scrutinized in your community.

[Masswich]

I don't think public sector managers are really that resistant to changes. If you find a stifling culture, it's probably because the managers simply don't have time to bother dealing with it. In my last public sector job, I had a manager who was very old school, had been in the field a long long time, and was mostly always shut in his office working or in meetings. I think he was just too bogged down with work to care about ping pong tables or crazy-tie Tuesdays or stuff like that, but I don't think he would have opposed it if someone else took that initiative.

Yep, I think there is some truth to that. Although I do think there are some (public sector, and other) managers who have a hard time with new styles of thinking, because that would imply that s/he has been doing things "wrong" all that time.

[Cardinal]

It's not just the cost of the table, it's the perception that government employees are lounging around playing games on your tax payer's time. There is a definate influence of public perception on public jobs. The public sees what they want which often is the image of the lazy street worker leaning on a shovel. Very few people see the hard work done by many public employees every day without the fringe benefits of a fun workplace...

This is true for all except the fire department.