If your back's to the wall, you may not necessarily be in a difficult situation. That's, of course, according to fung shui. If your back is literally facing a wall, it's like having 'mountain' behind you that will give you protection.
However, in an open-plan office this sort of protection is hard to come by. To offset this problem, try using screens and partitions that will give employees their own workspace - and, of course, protection from unseen forces.
The partitions should not be too low and you shouldn't be able to see your colleagues on either side without standing up. Having partitions will also reduce noise and distraction from visitors or colleagues walking along the corridors. You may use soft furnishings on the partitions to cushion sound and provide some relaxing yin energy in a stressful yang environment.
If you don't have a partition or wall behind you, your attention may be constantly diverted by the activities of other people, which will cause you to be highly strung and irritable. To prevent such a scenario from arising, place a small mirror on your computer monitor, or slightly above your head, so that you can always look up at the mirror if you hear anyone approaching and confirm who he or she is. This will improve your concentration and peace of mind.
Do not orientate your back to a wall with doors that are always used. The support provided by the wall will be negated by the constant movement of human traffic. It is not a problem to sit with your back to a wall with windows as long as your back is not directly in front of one of the windows, as the light streaming in will affect your concentration.
