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The bosses didn't sell it and the workers didn't buy it. There was no discussion nor choice. It just happened because it was cheaper. It happened because startup culture couldn't afford it and startup culture is worshipped.

I still hear companies speaking about their relatively flat organizations. Relative to what? I interviewed for a top tech company and the hiring manager told me they were a flat org. Yet there was a hiring manager who was a people manager. They also had a VP, many directors, and managers. I am not sure they understood the concept of flat organizations. I assumed they had a majority of individual contributors and considered it flat.

It's a lot cheaper to have an open office. They sold it as cool and the younger peeps bought it.