The Pros and Cons of Hot Desking: Is It Right for Your Business?

 

What is Hot Desking?

Hot desking,also known as non-territorial or agile working,is an office setup where employees do not have a designated workspace or desk. Instead,employees use whichever desk is available when they come into the office. The desk may change day to day.

Hot desking aims to maximize office space and enable flexibility. As more employees work remotely,hot desking lets companies reduce their office footprint. Employees who do come in can find a spot to work as needed.

The Pros of Hot Desking

Here are some potential benefits of implementing hot desking:

Increased Flexibility

With hot desking,employees can choose their work environment based on the task. They can pick a quiet desk for focused work or an open,collaborative space for group work.

Efficient Use of Office Space

Companies can save on rent and furnishings with fewer permanent desks. With hot desks,they only need desks for the maximum number of employees in the office at one time.

Encourages Collegiality

Hot desking brings employees together who may not interact regularly in a traditional setup. This can increase connections between teams and departments.

Enables Remote Work

With fewer employees in the office every day,hot desking makes remote work easier to manage. Employees know desks will be available when they come in.

The Cons of Hot Desking

Hot desking also comes with some potential drawbacks:

Lack of Personal Space

Some employees may struggle without their own desk area to personalize. They also lose out on desk storage space.

Adjusting to Change

For employees used to having an assigned desk,it can be disruptive to shuffle seats daily. It takes time to get accustomed to the setup.

Can Impede Collaboration

When colleagues are not seated together regularly,it can hamper impromptu conversations and collaborative working relationships.

Hygiene Concerns

Shared desks and equipment may raise concerns about germs and cleanliness. Companies need policies for cleaning desks between users.

Is Hot Desking Right for Your Business?

The pros and cons will vary for each company. Hot desking is best suited to organizations with:

  • A mobile,flexible workforce
  • A tech-savvy culture open to change
  • Employees who travel frequently
  • A need to reduce real estate costs

Businesses should consider trying hot desking on a small scale first to see if employees embrace it. For many companies today,hot desking is an innovation worth exploring.