Then there is the open plan office, combined with the clean desk policy. That way you have to endure the inane yacking going on around you and god forbid you try and figure something out on a piece of paper while you're working and go grab a coffee without locking said piece of paper in a drawer or it's a written warning.

I hate the modern corporate office environment. HR should just be upfront about what open plan offices are about: saving money. It lets you cram in as many people in as small an area as possible. That's it. Nevermind if they're productive or not. We're SAVING MONEY!