I recently started a new job at a hospital foundation. We work in an old Victorian house that was the original hospital in 1908. I work in a tower room or turret that is separated from the rest of the rooms.

The tower room is at the end of a long hallway== the rest of the offices are off the hallway. My desk faces the door and the hallway.

The room faces west which is good for me. Above my tower room is another tower room in the attic (unused) I often feel separate from the rest of the staff or lowest on the totem pole. Want to know the implications of working in a tower or turret room and how I can make it better. It has plenty of windows - is very bright and sunny but i think working in a tower room is problematic.

Thanks so very much

Deb Craven

1. In my opinion, yes, usually, in a working environment, many of us feel better if we are not isolated! That is why, open office concept was and still the most commonly thought out layout.

2. Like you have mentioned, having an office in a "crammed" tower and being isolated is never a virtue of any human beings.. other than a "prisoner" or a "hermit".

3. We can draw many comparisons to "well wishing" parents who lived in a landed property. I have encountered many cases where, the parents have a three level apartment: ground floor = living / dining / kitchen and utility; 2nd storey is the master bedroom and often two more smaller bedrooms. And often the 3rd storey is another "2nd master bedroom".

4. Some well wishing parents, wish to give their "eldest" child a bigger bedroom. As a result, many of these children "object" to having their bedroom at the 3rd storey. For the parents, their thinking is that they would like give their child the biggest bedroom. But to the child, "HEY!, both of you don't want me anymore... so you "kicked me out" to the third storey?

5. Thus, most likely, your hospital, perhaps have good thoughts but did not consider our human instict "not to be isolated" or thus powerful message that.. we are the "odd one out". But often this is not the case. Most likely, the hospital is out of space. Thus, if you have the chance speak to your superior... and see what else can be done hopefullyin the "long term". In the short term... it may be more difficult.