What is up with the stupid cubicles we have to work in???

I work at a computer software company and we all have some decent sized cubicles which in itself is fine. However, they have it set up so if you were to walk into the cubicle, you see the back of the person working and the front of the computer they are working on. I can’t tell you how many times I have been startled, jumped right up to the ceiling, when someone has come by to ask me something out of no where.

Is it just me?? I don’t like being sneaked up upon, it makes me nervous and is uncomfortable. I assume that companies situate cubicles in this way so that managers can walk by and see what employees are doing. I feel like a little kid. I mean, if I was goofing off all day and not working, it would be pretty obvious since I would not be producing anything. Personally, I’d like to be treated more like the adult that I am and be *trusted* that I was actually doing work rather than having someone check on me. Makes me work better.

If you ask me, if we are trying to build a ‘teamwork’ type atmosphere where employees can openly share information with other employees, the most effective thing to do would set up work spaces which are condusive to that. I’d much rather speak with someone to their face when I go over to them rather than talk to the back of their head.

Does anyone know why cubicles are set up this way?? Does anyone out there hate it as much as I do? Of course, higher up’s get offices with the computer facing *them* while they face the door when people come to see them. Ridiculous. I don’t see why that should be just their luxury.