I worked at a place years back that was expanding; bought a second building - 2 stories. Downstairs had semi-open cubicles, and a wall of private office spaces (8 IIRC). All empty. Cubes were full. I was in the other building, told we were needing to move over the next couple months. I asked for one of the private spaces. They weren't really that big, and had no natural light, but... they did have a door. I'd been wrestling with being in an open cube next to marketing people (trying to juggle multiple dev projects), and routinely had 3-5 people on the phone around me. Very distracting.
"Nope, those offices are for managers".
"But... they're empty now".
"We're putting together the budget for next year to hire more managers".
"So... those will sit empty for the next 6-9 months and I have to work in an open cube environment, being distracted by the growing number of people around me".
"Looks that way, but don't be so negative about it. I think we're done here. Close my door on your way out please".
I left a few weeks after that exchange.
"Nope, those offices are for managers".
"But... they're empty now".
"We're putting together the budget for next year to hire more managers".
"So... those will sit empty for the next 6-9 months and I have to work in an open cube environment, being distracted by the growing number of people around me".
"Looks that way, but don't be so negative about it. I think we're done here. Close my door on your way out please".
I left a few weeks after that exchange.