Workplace Bullying in the Open: the Risks Associated with Working in an Open Office

Open office solutions have become increasingly common in contemporary work life, often implemented with the aim of fostering collaboration and efficient use of space. However, open offices have also been associated with increased stress and impaired well-being. This study investigated whether working in an open office is linked to an increased risk of workplace bullying and whether this association varies between different types of open office design. Using a national probability sample of the Swedish workforce (n = 3,307), we conducted logistic regression analyses, controlling for demographic factors, personality traits, office use, and remote work. Results showed that the risk of workplace bullying was significantly higher among employees working in open offices compared to those in private or smaller shared offices. Importantly, the increased risk was observed only in traditional open offices, not in activity-based open offices. These findings remained after adjusting for personality traits, indicating that the risk is not attributable to individual differences but rather to characteristics of the physical and social environment. Compared to private and smaller shared offices, additional analyses revealed lower job satisfaction among those working in traditional open offices, and higher turnover intention among employees in both traditional and activity-based open offices. Possible explanations include environmental stressors, incompatible role expectations, and limited opportunities to withdraw from social tension. The findings underline the need to incorporate psychosocial considerations into office design and to prioritize early conflict resolution. Particular attention should be given to the risks associated with traditional open offices.