As millennials join the workforce, businesses are trying to innovate their workplaces to better fit this new generation. Many businesses small and large have begun to tinker with the concept of musical chairs. In the efforts to increase efficiency, communication and employee well-being, managers and executives have now decided to be more assertive as to where their employees sit.

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“In recent years, many companies have moved toward open floor plans and unassigned seating. But some companies—especially small startups and technology businesses—are taking the trend a step further, micromanaging who sits next to whom in an attempt to get more from their employees. Grouping workers by department can foster focus and efficiency, says Christian Catalini, an assistant professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but mixing them up can lead to experimentation and the potential for breakthrough ideas. People with similar emotional temperaments work best together, says Sigal Barsade, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. But if a manager is trying to get a stressed-out worker to brighten up, the best strategy is to surround her with lots of cheerful, energetic people. Constantly shuffling people around has its consequences, however. Ms. Barsade says that moving from desk to desk can make workers feel like they have little control over their environment.”

Full story: “Bosses Take A Stand On Where Workers Sit” (WSJ)

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