The idea that you can work outside the office is nothing new. In fact, it is one of the many revolutions of the 21st century. Progressively we have seen how new trends have emerged in the workplace. Now it's about hot desking: a flexible workspace.
Work dynamics are changing, and with it the spaces. And I'm not just referring to coworking, that workspace revolution, but also to companies that are betting heavily on new styles in the workplace. Is the end of traditional offices coming? The truth is that workplaces are increasingly adapting to the needs of the millennial generation. And among these transformations appears the hot desk, which translates into flexibility and mobility: permanent positions are far away. It involves the use of shared desktops and working in an open environment that encourages interaction.
If you still don't know what the hot desk is and the curious history of the term, its advantages and disadvantages, how it is related to coworking, how it benefits companies, and much more, don't miss this article.
What is hot desking?
The hot desk or flexible desk is a renovation of the workspace that emerged in the 1990s. The concept of hot desk refers to working at an available desk, rather than a fixed one. This trend is very fashionable and has been put into practice not only in coworking spaces, but also in large companies.
Towards an origin of the term
It is presumed that the term hot desking comes from hot racking. The latter is a naval practice that consists of marines sharing the same bunk depending on their shifts. The idea of hot assumes that the bed was still warm when one marine woke up and it was the other's turn to sleep. This occurred due to the little space available. Curious, right? Hence the conception of the hot desk is, in business terms, a way of optimizing spaces.It is precisely about sharing the desktop depending on availability. What does this mean? Let's think, for example, of a coworking. You arrive at 9:00 am and grab a hot desk that is available at that time to start your work. However, the next day, that same desk may no longer be available when you arrive at the coworking and, therefore, you have to choose another hot desk to do your duties that day. This is what mobile desktops are all about!
Hot desking: advantages
Are you still not convinced by hot desks? You may think it's a bit inconvenient to change your desk every day. But if we tell you all its advantages, you may change your mind.
Advantages of hot desking
Save on costs
Yes, perhaps the main advantage of hot desking is the reduction of expenses. The hot desk is a very affordable option. The basis of the collaborative economy is that expenses are shared. That is, the cost of the location and other amenities are divided among all the coworkers.
Encourages collaboration and favors social relationships
Changing your desk daily allows you to meet new colleagues every day, which translates into freedom and social culture. The method has been very efficient for social interaction and for business growth. Do not you believe it? The mobile desktop is a way for you to interact with people from different fields, and perhaps opportunities for collaboration will arise.
New places every day are new professionals to meet. The advantage of exchanging with other professionals is especially useful. Why? Because it allows you to do networking. That is, expand our network of contacts or find potential clients. We know well that projects or businesses are developed, to a large extent, thanks to our relationships.
Provides greater cohesion and productivity to the work team
Small and medium-sized companies are also part of coworkings. Whether your company has a private office or an open office in a coworking , you can set the hot desk system for the team. This offers greater efficiency at work, as the exchange of ideas, collaboration and access to shared knowledge are encouraged. Members can choose where to sit each day.
Diversity of the environment
It is one of the most suggestive advantages of the hot desk. You have the ease of choosing the desk where you want to work daily. For example, you are free to find the place where you feel most motivated or the one that maximizes your creativity. This way, you manage your days depending on what you need.
More organized work spaces
Did you know that an organized workspace improves productivity and ability to concentrate? The figures do not lie. According to a study by Grace Chae and Juliet Zhu, the organization improves attention span by 167% and productivity by 10%.On a mobile desk you will not be able to have many of the common things of an office desk, namely brochures, plants, photos, cups or whatever else you have. hot desks force you to keep the space tidy, and although this means not being able to personalize the desk, the result is that you will be more focused on your work and will do it more effectively .
Host desk in a coworking
Coworkings have boosted the popularity of the hot desk. The collaborative spaces offer the opportunity to work in a creative and innovative. In fact, many people prefer hot desks because it allows them to work every day in different places within the coworking, which allows them to interact with other members. In addition, changing your workplace can produce greater inspiration and motivation.
Do hot desks mean the end of fixed desks?
Not necessarily. One of the many advantages of co-working spaces is that there are places for everyone. Well yes! If you are one of those who prefer fixed desks, but you like to work in a collaborative space, you are in luck because there are also options for fixed desks in a coworking. This way, you will maintain the stability you are used to and you will be able to customize your workspace.
Hot desking in a companyWhy have large companies also opted for the hot desk? This model favors better space management: it reduces unnecessary areas in the office and, consequently, reduces real estate costs.
Designing offices with several hot desks can be a great advantage for companies; especially for those in which employees work remotely most of the time, or spend a lot of time traveling. The hot desk can work very well in small work teams. Each member works from their laptop and having a fixed desk is not that important. This strengthens employee relationships and promotes teamwork.
Having flexible offices with hot desking fosters an environment of collaborative work between departments or sections of the company, since a shared work space encourages interaction and the development of ideas. This can bring many benefits for companies.
In summary. If you want to use cubicles and design spaces with hot desk in your company, here are some considerations that you should take into account:
Demographic statistics of your office.
Number of remote employees versus those who work full time in the office.
Surplus space.
Type of work of each department.
Logistics in terms of technology: will all desks have computers? Should employees bring their laptops?
How will calls be made between clients and workers? Skype, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, etc.?
Remember that not all workers are in favor of not having a fixed desk. This trend is much more common in young employees. Older workers are not as comfortable with them. A Workthere study shows that of 500 employees surveyed, only 47% prefer hot desks over permanent positions, according to data provided to Verdict. And walking around every day with a family photo frame and a cup of coffee in a box is somewhat disturbing for those who like personalized desks.
By the way, hot desking has also suffered lawsuits. For example, one of the first was in 2007. A British operator sued his employer because he claimed that the lack of a fixed desk caused him panic attacks.