Both employers and employees have found different methods of controlling "respect for privacy and solitude" at the workplace. Given the flexibility to create the workplaces ideal for their own productivity, employees employ one or more of the following strategies of finding solitude:

1) Strategic anonymity.
Setting up a table in a coffee shop or airport may seem to only increase distractions, but many people feel the ambient noise of these crowded places allows them to lose themselves amongst the crowd and hunker down to the task at hand.

2) Selective exposure.
When collaboration becomes necessary for a project, individual employees prefer to choose their own method of communication at the right time for them. This prevents coworkers from interrupting a crucial train of thought and provides the opportunity to limit shared information.

3) Intentional shielding.
While cubicle walls can limit visual stimulus, this doesn’t always protect workers from prying eyes or eavesdropping ears — which makes them uneasy and impacts their work.

Employees would prefer to construct their own shields, whether it be taking calls in public spaces or setting up a workspace in an area where they can see approaching coworkers.

Purposeful solitude.
People don’t always seek solitude to work — sometimes alone time is the best way to take a break and let off steam. These places don’t have to be closed offices or cubicles, but a quiet courtyard can be just as effective.