askST Jobs: Meetings and chats at the breakout area next to my desk can get quite ‘lively’. What can I do?

The author of this article discusses the challenges of maintaining a considerate environment in shared workplace spaces. Li Fengling, a certified senior professional, advises colleagues to address any disruptive gatherings directly and in a friendly manner, as this is often more effective than involving HR. She highlights that open-concept offices can lead to conversations carrying over to areas where they may disturb others working nearby.

Li also emphasizes that common areas are for everyone's use, and while informal chats are valuable, they should not turn into background noise for others. She suggests setting practical guidelines for duration of discussions, volume levels during working hours, and encouraging the use of designated areas for larger groups. Tan Weixi, managing partner at Workplace Asia, agrees that rather than confronting colleagues about their behavior, it's better to have a conversation about the proper use of shared spaces.

He proposes simple ground rules to remove ambiguity and give people a basis for using their common sense, ultimately recognizing that shared spaces come with shared responsibility.