Violated at Work, The Death of Personal Space

More people, less space.  It’s a problem that the world is plagued with.  Once you get to the office, a place where much of our individuality is stripped away to begin with with, we are left with precious little to call our own.  Perhaps that is why I’ve been guarding my personal space a little more carefully of late.

There’s nothing we can do about the sounds and scents that permeate our workspace, but we CAN protect the invisible bubble that most normal functioning members of society call their own.  

First let’s talk about anthropologist Edward Hall Jr. The one-time Harvard Business School teacher who passed away last year at the age of 95, defined “personal reaction bubbles” in 1966 as follows:

– Public space is greater than 12 feet from where I am.

– Social space occurs within 4 to 12 feet.

– Personal space occurs within 4 to 1.5 feet.

– Intimate space is within 1.5 feet

For the most part at work, I find that people respect personal space.  In the elevator everyone scurries to the far corner.  In the bathroom, no one usually yells over the stall walls.  And at meetings, people normally leave an empty chair between two people when given the choice.

The problem I’ve experienced has to do with my desk.

If someone comes over to conduct business that lasts more than a minute or two, they will take a seat opposite me.  But if they have “quick business,” they will come around the desk – to my side – and stand over me.  This puts them smack in the middle of my intimate space – and I’m NOT looking to get intimate with anyone…especially at work!

I’ve considered ways to block off the area, but it also serves as my only means to enter the workspace, making a road block difficult to implement.

Take a look for yourself…

Getting a new desk is out of the question and the majority of furniture has to stay where it is.

I could contact Brazilian artist Vivian Puxian and try to buy her Personal Space Protector (see video below), but then I’d need a new chair – and that’s not an option either.

Other options:

– Let my personal hygiene go to hell
– Go on an all onion and natto diet
– Tell people that I’m Anthropophobia and tend to throw up when my space is violated

So I throw this office proxemics dilemma out to our loyal Jobacle readers.  Any ideas on how to better protect my personal space in my current work area?