As with most things in our modern lifestyle, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate our personal lives and our work lives. One of the main contributing factors to this is our reliance on and innovation in technology. Unlike the preconceptions of many, coworking spaces can be so much more than just a big office with multiple desks. A good coworking space doesn’t have to be a set size, it can simply be a larger company looking to share spare desk space.
As our work life and workspace evolve, more and more businesses are allowing their staff to work remotely. The term ‘remote working’ covers a wide range of working scenarios including:
- Working from home
- Travelling team/sales member
- Contract workers
- Freelancing
- Relief
- Online based business
Also known as telecommuting, remote working simply means that the job is mostly location independent, i.e. you don’t have to live in a specific area or clock into a specific office every day of the week. Remote working has become increasingly popular over the past few years due to the flexibility it offers. However, sharing office space with other companies can offer so much more than a traditional office.
Think Before You Jump
Before you choose a coworking space or a shared office you must first ask yourself these questions:
- What is your work schedule?
- Where do you want to live?
- Where do you want to work?
- Do you need to travel with your job?
- Do you need to spend periods of time away from the home as part of your job
- What facilities and technologies do you require?
- What kind of work do you do?
One of the key benefits a shared or coworking office can offer is the community that comes with it. This is why it is so important to ask yourself the questions above first to ensure that you get the most out of your remote working scenario.
Remote Working In The Eyes of An Employer
As an employer, you always want to attract the best talent you can. However, in previous years, this has been limited by potential employees:
- Residential location
- Ability to relocate
- Ability to commute
and
- Desired working schedule
By utilising office sharing and coworking solutions, employers can access highly skilled and talented employees without the restrictions faced due to geographical location. Coworking can also help companies expand into other countries and new office locations without the significant outlay of setting up a whole new office. Instead, remote workers can access coworking facilities, providing a physical office address (which is not their home) while helping reduce costs through the sharing of facilities and resources such as:
- Heating and Lighting
- Internet
- Receptionist
- Desk Space and Furniture
- Private Meeting Rooms
- Flexible Open and Breakout Spaces
- Kitchen and Tea & Coffee Making Facilities
As a result, many employers are happy to utilise or reimburse the cost of using coworking facilities or sharing an office.
Remote Working In The Eyes Of An Employee Or Contractor
As an employee, remote working comes which a wide range of benefits including:
- Reduced commute
- Better work-life balance
As a contractor or small business owner, the ability to share an office helps to keep costs low which opening up the opportunity of freelancing, collaboration and networking. Creative industries are specifically well suited to coworking and remote working, especially in curated offices where they can be surrounded by like-minded employees and business owners which they can ‘bounce ideas off of’.
More Than Just A Desk
Coworking spaces are so much more than just an office or collection of desks, they are businesses in their own right. Most people who create a coworking office have direct ties to the local community and strive to create a bustling and vibrant workplace. At its heart, choosing to share office space or access coworking facilities is all about being part of a community.
Whether you are an owner of a company who is looking to share office space or the creator of a curated coworking office choosing the right companies to share the space can make a significant impact on parties involved. For example, by choosing to share office space with businesses which are complementary to your industry you open up a world of opportunities including networking and collaboration. With all the advantages associated with sharing office space, businesses of all sizes and industries should consider it as an alternative to their current office space.
