Important points
- Hotdesking, where employees use a shared desk, is becoming increasingly common in hybrid work environments.
- Some employees find hot desking encourages collaboration with colleagues, while others find it distracting.
- Hotdesking can be counterproductive if forced on employees without explanation, but can work well if approached collaboratively.
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As hybrid work environments continue to increase, a workplace trend called “hot desking” has emerged, where employees use shared desks rather than assigned desks.
“This trend has gained momentum with the rise of flexible work arrangements and increased focus on optimizing space,” Tawny Lott-Rodriguez, director of human resources at Roland Hall, a private school in Salt Lake City, said in an email. mentioned in.
In her previous role as human resources director at one of Utah’s largest accounting firms, Rodriguez spearheaded the company’s “Hotel Office System” (another term for hotdesking). With the rapid growth in her workforce, “we were running out of space,” she said, adding, “I saw the pros and cons.”
What is hotdesking?
Hotdesking involves a collaborative workspace where specific desks are not assigned to individual employees. Instead, employees choose from available desks and reserve or rent workstations each day. A hot desk is sometimes referred to as a “hotel,” “hotel office,” or “hotel-style workspace.”
Is hot desking good for employees?
While hot desking is often thought of as a workplace trend that employers love and workers hate, it’s not necessarily bad for employees. Rodriguez said employees have mixed reactions to this trend. “While hotdesking promotes collaboration and a sense of community, it can also disrupt concentration, make personalization difficult, and cause feelings of isolation,” she said. “Some people enjoy the flexibility and change of scenery, while others find it impersonal and destructive.”
Matt Jones, CEO of online experience day gift provider Wonder Days, said hotdesking supports the company’s flexible workspace needs and allows for creativity to be stimulated through a variety of environments. However, “not all employees perceive the lack of permanent space, and it can impact their sense of stability and belonging,” Jones added. To alleviate this, Wonder Days said it provides employees with personal lockers and designated quiet areas to give them a sense of feeling. Permanence and personal space.
Advantages and disadvantages of hot desking
Depending on whether you’re an employer or employee and your specific situation, hotdesking can have both positives and negatives. Here are the biggest pros and cons of this trend:
Benefits for companies:
- Space efficiency. By not assigning desks to each employee, companies can make the most of their office space.
- collaboration. Because employees don’t always sit in the same place, hotdesking fosters interaction between teams.
- Cost reduction. Companies save money because they don’t have to provide assigned desks for all of their staff.
Benefits for employees:
- Flexibility. Employees can choose their workspace based on their daily tasks, giving them more options than an assigned desk.
- A change of scenery. Some employees may enjoy the opportunity to work in a variety of workspaces rather than being tied to a specific desk.
- A sense of togetherness. Some employees may find it easier to collaborate and interact with co-workers by sitting in different locations.
Cons for businesses:
- Decreased loyalty. Unassigned workspaces can reduce employee loyalty, which can impact retention rates.
- Engagement decreases. Without a dedicated workspace, employees feel less engaged, less productive, and less focused.
- Efficiency decreases. Efficiency can be hindered if employees are constantly moving from place to place.
Disadvantages for employees:
- Loss of personalization. Employees may not be able to customize their workstations or have their personal belongings displayed on an ongoing basis, which can reduce their comfort level.
- confusion. Moving from desk to desk every day can feel confusing.
- Lack of concentration. On some days, employees may struggle to find a quiet place to focus, which can disrupt their ability to concentrate.
- Separation. While some people may enjoy moving from desk to desk and meeting new people, it can leave them feeling displaced and uprooted, leading to feelings of isolation and undermining their sense of stability and belonging. Some people are.
How to ask your boss about hot desking
If you want to discuss your company’s hot-desking policy with your boss, Rodriguez advises that the best strategy is to directly and professionally explain your concerns and preferences. She suggested using expressions like these to start a dialogue:
“We understand that you are considering hot desking. We are open to exploring new ways of working, but are concerned about the potential impact on concentration and productivity. Do you have space or can we discuss alternatives?” What are the options? ”
Hotdesking can be counterproductive if forced on employees without explanation or consent, but can work well for all parties if approached collaboratively. Employees can take control of this discussion even if their managers are not in control.
“By emphasizing a collaborative approach, we can engage managers to find workstation solutions that work for everyone,” Rodriguez says.
