An open office wouldn't be so bad if the same 3 people would actually sit the fuck down once in a while and do some actual work. Distracting as hell. It's gotten so bad that I've started writing logs of how many times they get up during the day.

// the most egregious offender
// down: 9:00
// up: 9:05
// down: 9:15
// up: 9:20
// down: 9:23
// up: 9:32
// down: 9:45
// up: 9:58
// down: 10:05
// this pattern continues the entire day

And what are they doing during these exoduses?

- Answering their personal cell phone from stay at home spouses
- Throwing trash away even though they have trash bins right NEXT to their desks.
- Pacing back and forth
- Checking the thermostat
- Checking the contents of the fridge over and over
- Being an absolute asshole!

You know... I wasn't a HomeOffice fan at first. Always though that I would be way more productive in the corp. environment.
But, for my surprise I have been waaaay more efficient and has been waaaay more peaceful than if I was in my office chair.

I think that the best part is that, if I get stuck with something, I can take some time, play some game or something else... And then come back whatever time I want to solve it.

I get the bin thing, I don't want a rubbish sitting next to me.

@vorticalbox I need to clarify, they stand up and walk around their desk to throw it in their own rubbish bin right next to them.

@RingoMcKraken oh then yeah totally on your side.

When coding I will from time to time have a walk by my desk to stretch or go make a cup on tea.

Do you have any visualization plotted over the weeks worth of data you mined? There might be an interesting pattern to unravel

@asgs Good idea! I'm going to start collecting more rigorously. Which I had an automated tool that could collect the sit down and sit up actions.

I also stand up every 20 min. Because I have neck pain.

@Magauw this is exactly why I go to office on weekends(no project work) .

Set up a motion detector attached to a small device like an arduino. Have it automate your logs for maximum annoyance factor.

Then each time it logs a new entry, have it add the new data to the end of the log.

Send it to them through email.

Bonus points if you have their phone number and send it as some sort of text message notification.

Each text message is longer than the last, exactly the same line-for-line but with the addition of one single line.

Hell you could 'enlist' them into the project as a 'fun harmless research study.'

Then set up a bot with random responses, at varying times, sending text messages asking them to do different things at their desk.

"Could you get up and trip the sensor?"

"Hey, do me a favor, walk in a circle in front of the sensor."

"Hey, I need you to do a jumping jack real quick."

When they finally get annoyed, accuse them of not being a team player. Gotta add insult to injury!

Standing up once in a while is healthy and you should do that too. Maybe using a standing desk would help as you are already standing?

Maybe you could ask for a desk next to a wall as you have trouble staying focused.

Spying on your coworkers is not cool. Don't be an ass. Everyone has the right to stand up as they please.

@electrineer

Man I've wanted a standing desk for *ages*.

To all those that say it's healthy and if they get work done its ok. I agree with you. What you don't seem to understand is that this isn't just getting up to think or take care of something. It's constant.

It's a true distraction when it is so frequent. Like minutes apart all day long.