All the pretty cubicles

Office Max recently launched an ad campaign aimed at helping women enjoy working in cubicles. The campaign is called: "Life is Beautiful. Work Can be Too." Does that tell you anything? Watch their short ad and tell me if you think that pretty file folders and rainbow-colored rubber bands could make you enjoy working in a cubicle.

Here's what I think. Women enjoy working. We want to work. But most everything we can do in an office cubicle can also be done in a cubicle at home. And that's the part that the marketing people don't get. Color coordinated desk accessories are nice, but it's insulting to infer that prettiness can make up for a life-stealing work environment. Loveliness is nice, but what I want (and deserve) more than that is the respect and flexibility to effectively manage both home and work. Until traditional employers get that, pretty scissors and staplers are not going to make that much of a difference.

What do you think?