Making the move from a quiet, personal office space into a more socially open co-working environment can open so many doors, both personal and professional. However, much like moving to any new environment, there are some changes you may need to look out for, as bad office habits and unknowingly annoying behaviours can be a major cause of workplace conflict amongst your new co-working comrades.
The Gift of Gab
Moving into a diverse mix of people and businesses can be a bit of a shock to your system, especially if you’re accustomed to the drab, basic office life. However, you want to make sure you keep the judgements to yourself. It can be easy to fall into office gossip and shallow chitchat, so be sure to be mindful to stay away from the rumour mill. Meet new people, form your own relationships, and always be aware of the gift of gab that inevitably runs through every office.
Keep It Quiet
Co-working spaces offer such a great social environment, but not everyone is there is to talk. If your specific shared office space is more open concept, be mindful of those working around you. Lunch time laughs and even making personal calls in public areas can still be bothersome to those trying to work. If you have a call to make or have a group social conversation, make sure you’re in an area that it is appropriate, or go grab a cup of coffee and keep the office a little quieter.
Clean Up
Nobody wants to be known as the “dish leaver”. Be sure to cleanup after yourself in both your own areas and the shared regions. Don’t leave mugs in the communal sink, papers on the desks or left over lunch crumbs on the tables. While you’re co-working space may have a cleaning staff, you don’t want to be known as the inconsiderate Pig Pen. If you’re working space is not specifically yours, make sure it’s as clean when you leave as when you arrived. Don’t forget, other businesses don’t want to bring their clients to a space that’s littered with someone else garbage.
Follow The Rules
Moving into a cool, new co-working space can offer some amazing new office perks, especially in the technology department. From 3D printers to top of the line projection screens and board rooms. While you’ll likely have full access to them, it’s important to follow the rules. Much like using a machine at the gym, follow the proper rules and etiquette. Ensure the equipment is available, you’re using it properly, and be sure to have the proper permission before using anything that doesn’t directly belong to you. And as mentioned before, make sure it’s left in the same condition you found it in.
While moving into a new co-working space can help you grow your business and network relationships in a social setting, there are some changes to always keep in mind. While you can have designated section or a full open concept, be mindful that it is still a work environment and be sure to be considerate to those around you, so each business can prosper with productivity.
One of the most obvious perks to moving your business into a co-working space having a top-notch office already set-up and ready to go. While that is in fact the case with many options in co-working, there are still some things you will likely have to provide for your day to day operations. Traditionally, things such as internet access, top tech like projectors and printers and most furniture is provided, however thats not always a guarantee for all spaces.
Computers
Regardless of how simple or elaborate your co-working space may be, bringing your own computers is a must. Whether you opt to for a handful of desktops or ask each employee to provide their own laptop, either way, this is not something you will likely see included in your co-working space. While larger scale technology will likely be provided, personal computers will have to come from your own pocket.
Furniture
Depending on the space you choose, you may have to provide your own desks/office chairs. Some of the larger co-working environments do provide furnished office spaces, however that’s not always the case. While you may even be given the barebones of furnishing for your specific office area, anything further will be your responsibility. Things such as plants, filing cabinets, etc are likely also not included. So keep this mind when budgeting out your initial move, whether or not you will have to shell out for furnishing.
Office Supplies
Besides the usual printer paper, coffees and teas, a large portion of co-working spaces to not provide the thoughtless office supplies you may forget to buy until you need them. Things such as staplers, pens, file folders snd even good old-old-fashioned paper clips are things that you should have on your To-Buy list before you move in. While it might seem like a low priority, you don’t want to end up in a bind when you finally need them. Not to mention, moving in with everything accounted for can make for a smoother transition into your new digs.
Chargers & Headphones
While most people toss their charger into their bag when they leave, out of pure habit, it’s always good to keep one at the office. Not to mention, a set of headphones. Although many shared office spaces can be quiet, it can be easy to drift out of focus and more onto office chit-chat or conversations happening around you. Keeping an extra set of earphones to pop in when you really need to crunch down on work can really save you the distraction.
Water Bottles & Coffee Cups
As mentioned, plenty of co-working spaces offer gourmet coffee and tea options, even small snacks, but it can be bothersome to constantly be washing your coffee cup or glass at the end of each day. Keeping you own mug and reusable water bottle in your office space can not only keep you extra hydrated, but it can save you any cleanup come 5 o’clock.
Sweater or Jacket
Offices are notorious for being chilly. While there is some science behind the lowered temperature, it’s not always everyone’s perfect environment. To avoid feeling the chill, or worse, finding yourself stuck underneath the AC vent, tuck an extra sweater or jacket into your desk drawer, since you won’t have access to the thermostat.
There are so many pluses to what a shared office environment can bring to your and your business, but don’t forget what you need to bring to keep your daily operations running smoothly. From big item like desks to tiny things like extra staples, it will all depends on what type of co-working space you choose. To get an idea of the range of options, check out the huge selection Spacie has to offer any business!
Finding the perfect office space for your business can be like finding the perfect apartment. While there is lots of options and locations, it is important to narrow down the list of features you need and the list of features you want. What comes as a huge surprise to those seeking out a co-working space is the amount of variety of locations, as well as their individual features, most of which people don’t even realize are available for their use.
For those with a more technology based business operation, they may be looking for an office space with more amenities specific to tech. Some of the major tech-based bonuses in co-working spaces include top of the line printing services, projection board rooms for presentations, digital whiteboards for brainstorming sessions, video conference quiet spaces, Apple TV, HDMI and high definition video screens to match. It’s like working in your own personal Best Buy – Talk about cutting costs!
One of the best parts of having a pre-made office with a co-working space is having the environment to host others, without having to commit to a large permanent space. Whether it be for out-of-town employees or other businesses, having ready-made conference rooms and board rooms with the necessary items and features can help you to have a professional meeting or a successful sales pitch when needed. This allows you skip on renting a bigger office space for the long term, and use the board room amenities at your own convenience for no extra cost. Another great thing to consider about these larger, private areas offered in co-working spaces is that they can also be used for social events pertaining to work. Whether it be an office get together or you’re hosting a social mixer with potential clients, having this amenity available for your use can help save you time, money and energy when building your networking skills.
As winter finally comes to a close, the first thought on everybody’s mind is patios, patios, patios! Did you know, that many co-working spaces offer an outdoor area to work, eat and be social in? Across the city, you will find plenty of co-working environments that offer this private luxury to its resident businesses, often complete with tables and chairs, umbrellas and more often than not, some Friday afternoon social gatherings. Whether you’re looking for a sunny spot to work, a breezy place to have a meeting or just a quiet area to relax, private outdoor patios are a huge hidden plus when it comes to picking the perfect office. Not to mention, it is a great place to schmooze potential clients on a nice day.
It likely isn’t something that pops to the top of the mental checklist when looking for a working space, but one of the many benefits of moving into a co-working environment is the extra help. To begin with, most offer a reception area with an employee offering help or navigation to visitors, interviewees, etc. Additional services such as tech support, IT and even cleaning staff can help to elevate some costs, hiring and stress when trying to compile the perfect working area. While some may not think of these features as a high priority, once you see them in action and how beneficial they can be to your day-to-day operations, it can really jump up the list!
There is no cookie cutter perfect office environment for everybody, as each business and entrepreneur has their own list of needs and wants. However, with the mass growth and expansion of co-working spaces, and the limitless amount of features and amenities each have to offer, it can help you to find the personalized space for optimal productivity. Thinking about making the switch to co-working? Take a look at the huge selection of offices and amenities Spacie has to offer your budding business.
The with the massive rise of co-working spaces popping up in major cities across the globe, small businesses and entrepreneurs are reaping the benefits of the modern day work environments. However, the concept of a classic office is still in hot pursuit. While both offer their unique options and specifics, determining which is best for your business can be tough. Let’s take look a some comparisons and contrasts of the two types of office life.
Structure
One of the biggest and most noticeable differences between co-working spaces and classic offices, is the style and structure of the office life itself. When you think of a traditional office, you think of private sections, cubicles or rows of desks, etc. Co-working spaces offers a bit of a different approach, allowing employees from multiple businesses to intermingle, move around, share resources and give a much more social vibe amongst each other. Depending on the level of structure you feel is appropriate to keep your professional wheels running smoothly, you may opt for a more private office style. For example, while a marketing agency may flourish in a creative co-working space, it may not be the best choice for a research group or cold callers.
Cost
The major draw the a co-working space is the fact that it is ready, set and good to go for you to move into you. With office areas already furnished and top notch tech at your disposal, a new business or even an established smaller business can really save some big bucks on amenities by moving into a co-working space. While the cost per person is a bit higher in a co-working environment, the cost of build-outs and office extras or upgrades are not a factor that needs to be a concern as you build your business.
Size
Despite the mass size of some co-working buildings in major cities, the size of your business is a big determining factor as to whether or not you’d be able to move into a shared environment or need your own office. With the average square footage of a co-working space nearing 8,000 square feet, it narrows down to to about 150 square feet per member. With this in mind, a new entrepreneur or small business might jump art the opportunity, however a growing business with upwards of 60 or more employees, might find it difficult to find the right accommodation in a shared environment with such a large amount of members. Not impossible, but not necessarily easy nor ideal to acclimate a large company into a shared space.
Commitment
The business world can be a very tumultuous, so the idea of a long-term commitment to an office location can be stressful. Especially for budding businesses, it can be hard to determine the right place to set up shop, more so if there is a contract to be locked into. If the worry of a long term commitment is a factor in your new business, the co-working route might be a better option. Typically, shared work spaces offer as low as month-to-month memberships, while more traditional commercial spaces can ask you to lock in for up to 3-5 years. If your foresight about your business needs isn’t perfectly clear, perhaps going for less commitment is the better decision for you.
Locations
Many companies, both big and small, operate across the country and ever across the globe. With offices in different timezones, cities and countries, it can be difficult for business owners and entrepreneurs to keep track of multiple offices running smoothly and profitably. More so, employees or business owners that find themselves needing to travel to various locations for meetings, interviews, recruiting, etc., a shared space can offer a home-away-from-home style office when they need it. Operate from Toronto but looking to expand to Vancouver? No problem, you can hop on over and have a fully set-up office to get your affairs in order, without compromising professionalism or making a preemptive commitment. On the other side of the spectrum, a company running multiple offices in various locations may want a more structured environment in a private office, to ensure when the cat is away, the mice won’t play.
Finding the perfect place to run your business can be a long process. Establishing the type of morality, culture and structure you’d like for yourself and your employees should all be taken into consideration when deciding between classic office life and co-working space. With both offering different benefits and styles, both can help to grow you business and run your day to day operations smoothly, depending on what your business needs are. Thinking about making the change to a co-working space? Be sure to check out all the options Spacie offers, something for every business and eager entrepreneur to explore.
As we search our weather apps for signs of spring, it is clear that 2019 is well underway, as are its trends. From tech trends to fashion and lifestyle, the new year is showing major signs of integration and revolutionary ideas, and co-working spaces are no exception to those innovations.
While co-working spaces are still a relatively new concept to the working world, they have slammed the gas pedal from the get-go and are constantly evolving at a rapid rate to make an entirely new experience for the upcoming generations of career-hungry entrepreneurs. What started as small, convenient spaces for growing businesses has quickly turned into modern work environments, complete with top of the line tech and designed to promote productivity and a new-age way of office operations. As the evolution of work spaces continues to snowball, here are some of the top trends we see coming in the co-working forecast for 2019 and beyond.
Restaurants, Food Vendors & Bars
While some major co-working spaces have already started to integrate small cafes and food vendors into their locations, more and more are on the rise. Currently ranging from artisan lattes and muffins to small scale lunch spots, you can definitely expect see a major rise in this department. Allowing for working lunches, lunch meetings and every fuelling those late work hours, it won’t be long before you see full-scale food vendors moving in, and even major corporations such as Starbucks jumping in to monopolize on the work week traffic. As far as alcohol goes, many offices have Friday cocktails or even a company beer fridge, so it’s no surprise that vendors with a liquor license offering an end-of-day draft beer will be popping up more and more. Talk about Fri-YAY.
Health & Wellness
As the job market and career world grow to be more competitive and hands-on for those climbing the ladder, a huge focus has been on health and wellness, both physically and mentally. With that idea, more workplaces are adding outlets to help promote better wellbeing for their employees. One of the biggest trends you can expect to see in the upcoming years in co-working spaces are things such as gym equipment, meditation rooms and even yoga areas. In fact, we predict that group yoga sessions and instructed meditation to be a massive trend before 2020 in shared work environments. This type of mental health awareness in the workplace can help to relieve mid-day tension, stress and anxiety, not to mention add a great social aspect to a workplace. We’re all for it, so start stretching and save us a spot!
Female Only Areas
It is no secret that 2018 was definitely the year of female empowerment, and it shows no signs of slowing down in 2019 and onward. As women continue to flourish, more and more businesses are designing their practice to include women-only aspects. Female-dominated gyms, fitness centres, and even co-working areas are massively on the rise to ensure women feel comfortable and encouraged within the workplace. While the debate on equality’s reflection of women-only topics is still a bit sensitive, the concept of designating a women-only area in an office, especially co-working spaces which combine varying company values, are going to a huge trend in the near future. While women continue to step up to the plate with their voices and ideas, a safe-space concept is still a major interest for new business and work environments.
Childcare
Plenty of internet jokes and memes are floating around taking aim at millennials not being able to afford to have children in today’s economy, and they aren’t totally off-base. However, as the idea of a household with just one working parent went out the window, integrating convenient childcare into the work place came rushing in. While the trend is still very new, you can expect it to pick up steam quickly. Co-working spaces offering in-house daycare centres, most for an additional fee, will not only help parents with full-time work schedules, but also allowing an easier management of family lives, without interring with a productive workday. While it still may seem like a questionable concept, we see it as fantastic new take on a traditional idea and project it become extremely popular in the upcoming years.
When something as revolutionary as co-working spaces starts to make headway, there is no shortage of expansions that can be made. From health and wellness to easing the lives of employees, the major trends of these office environments are showing the modern day advancements our economy needs. By updating the structure of how business and employees operate to match today’s societal and economic needs, it can allow for a limitless amount of growth and prosperity across the board. Thinking of making the switch to co-working for your business? Take a look at the huge variety of spots Spaciehas to offer, all designed with you in mind.
Depression. Anxiety. Poor sleep habits. Low self-esteem. What do all these things have in common? Each can be a symptom of poor mental health directly related to your work environment. First, rewind for a second to the golden age of baby boomers in the workplace, where tiny cubicles and fluorescent lighting were the sign of a modern day office. Separation from coworkers, quiet buildings and minimal natural lighting was very often seen as standard work space. Flash ahead to 2019, and studies have shown that secluded, silent offices flooded with an overhead white glow can actually lead to less productivity among workers, and a diminished state of mental health over an extended period of time. As we roll into the future, bringing in new work environment concepts, the major features of co-working spaces are being proven to help reduce things such as anxiety, depression, fatigue and even promote productivity, just to name a few. How, you ask?
Segregation VS Networking
The original concept of the cubicle was designed to give workers a sense of their own office, without having to actually contract dozens of tiny offices across the floor. The cubicle gave privacy, while also cutting off communication from other workers while on the clock. However, more recent studies have shown that workplace integration and shared idea spaces actually creates better results. Open spaces, which allow for casual chit-chat, networking of projects, ideas and contacts showed results of workers being more productive, less fatigued and having less anxiety about meeting deadlines and completing tasks1. The co-working open concept has also shown to help businesses meet goals faster and more efficiently than those separating employees into private, individual spaces. Not to mention, employee retention within co-working spaces skyrocketed above those using separation in a 2018 study2. Based on the idea that social interaction can boost your mood and lower anxiety and work-related depression, co-working spaces are using this idea to create a more well-balanced work environment, to ensure maximum productivity, while still putting the mental health of workers at the forefront of priorities.
Socialization & Collaborations
Coming into the new millennium, when someone used the term “collaboration” it was often in reference to two major music artists creating a track together. But, in 2019, the idea of a “collab” often reaches the everyday workplace, making shared spaces a vital part of idea creation and workload contribution. Much like removing segregation of employees, the concept of shared spaces often snowballs into ideas, discussions and contributions from other employees and even other businesses. This type of socialization has been shown to reduce social anxieties, mind blocks, and even create some of the biggest product ideas of the last year3. In fact, even major companies such as Apple, Google and Amazon continue to take the traditional idea of group brainstorming and modify it into open work and discussion spaces, allowing employees and fellow businesses to fuel and feed off each other’s ideas.
Working From Home, At Work
We’ve all had the Sunday Scaries. That overwhelming gloomy anxiety at about 7pm on a Sunday night, knowing you have to return to work in the morning and start the week all over again. But what if your office felt more like home? More like a social gathering with laughter, conversation, productivity and flow of positive accomplishments, topped off with pingpong and Artisan lattes. Welcome to the world of co-working spaces. Shared work spaces are taking the data derived from workplace studies, and creating environments that give a more home-like feel to employees. This idea of modern styles, comfortable furniture, extra curriculars such as ping pong or rooftop patios, showed in several 2018 studies to reduce the Sunday night stress of employees4. Gone are the days of flicking fluorescents and grey cubicles. Today’s co-working spaces offer bright, natural lighting, cityscape views, topnotch boardrooms, comfy armchairs and even touch screen coffee makers. These types of small changes are throwing out the idea of office space, and creating a more positive, home-like feel for employees which is starting work weeks on a positive note, and continuing that upbeat feel through to Friday afternoon. In fact, most businesses that switched to co-working spaces, found their employees to be happier, more relaxed, and even working longer hours on their own volition.
As the world and the workplace take more and more notice of the effects of mental health, many businesses are turning to simple solutions with immediate results. Co-working spaces across the country are showing such a massive spike in employee health, happiness and productivity, as they continue to grow and expand to make every office a place where “going to work” doesn’t feel like a punishment. Thinking about making a change for your business? Take a look at all the unique co-working offices Spacie has to offer in Toronto and other major cities!
1. Amador, Cecilia. “Promoting Mental Health In The Workplace.” Allwork.space.
In a world where nearly an entire generation is separated from excessive face-to-face interaction due to the limitless abilities of technology, one area is rebranding and reinventing the idea of mixing social and professional qualities. That being, co-working spaces. These new-age shared workspaces are popping up across major cities and revolutionizing the way small businesses, freelancers, start-ups and entrepreneurs create their office environments.
One of the most commonly heard of co-working environments across Canada is WeWork. Offering an open concept office space for up to 25 people, per business, at an affordable price tag, co-working spaces help to cut costs, boost productivity and give new business a professional environment, already built and ready to move in to.
While co-working spaces are open to all types of businesses and walks of life, there does seem to be some common elements across the board. The trendy style, the groovy furniture, and of course, the top 5 people you will inevitably meet at nearly any co-working space.
The Healthy Hippie
The great thing about shared work spaces is that you get a very social environment, especially when it comes to the kitchen and lunchtime, which is where you’ll meet The Healthy Hippie. This particular workspace dweller will almost always be inconveniently prepping their elaborately green lunch, while simultaneously be telling the people in line for the toaster the importance of hemp hearts and how disappointed they were with the organic chives at the farmer’s market this past weekend. Don’t be fooled, The Healthy Hippie doesn’t just drone on about their superfoods and antioxidant-filled bowl of what appears to be grass, they are inconspicuously judging your hot pocket in the communal microwave. Snacker beware, The Hippie’s eyes are everywhere.
The Shockingly Young Entrepreneur
Co-working environments are almost perfectly designed for a young, fresh entrepreneur. Offering them a professional space, without the cost. Thus, in every WeWork across the country you are bound to find the trendy, yet stressed out, Shockingly Young Entrepreneur. They can easily be spotted by their casual attire and expensive accessories, whether it be a Gucci wallet or brand new, just released iPhone, The Shockingly Young Entrepreneur keeps very much to themselves. Constantly offering mystery as to how they made it happen for themselves, but you will rarely see the young entrepreneur standing around socializing. Friday afternoon ping-pong? Not a chance for the token Shockingly Young Entrepreneur.
The Floater
Not unlike going to a high school library or cafeteria, there is constantly one person who drifts from group to group, offering no major loyalty or productivity to any group in particular. The Floater is always very social, seemingly friends with people from all corners and work areas, chatting and offering lively small talk about local events, restaurants, Netflix specials, you name it. The true mystery behind The Floater is that while they offer a personable distraction when that Venti Double Shot has your mouth running a mile a minute, you never really see them accomplish anything nor even truly learn what they do for a living. But you have to admit, they’ve got the entire recap on the last season of Games of Thrones when you need a refresh.
The Random Dog
Always. There is always a dog. In nearly every office in major cities, people are bringing their dogs. I mean, who wouldn’t want to break up their workday with some puppy petting and snapping some solid IG content of a golden retriever sitting at a computer? The owner of The Random Dog is usually somewhere in the office, but nobody is ever quite sure who the pet-parent of the office dog is, as everyone seems to jump in and care for the pooch at every chance they get. You will notice though, The Random Dog almost always has an adorably ironic name, and is usually the most socially well-behaved being in the entire building. Just sayin’.
The Anti-Socials
The cool kids. The mean girls. The group that deep, down wishes they had the office to themselves. There is always one, and usually a small one, group of workers who live in a bubble of ignorance to those around them. They look like the studious adults you’d find in the U of T library, and they are never caught aimlessly cruising websites not related to their work. Hats off to the professional mindset, and don’t take it personal. Let them work, watch them from a safe distance, and if you find a great sale suddenly happening at Zara, tell the floater instead.
As the working world continues to evolve and expand, the idea of open concept and co-working environments is becoming more and more of a hot topic. Providing equal opportunity to small businesses to have access to professional work spaces, board rooms, interviews areas and more, there is no limitation as to where to the world of co-working will go. See for yourself by checking out the wide range of shared working environments in Toronto which Spacie has to offer, perfect for businesses of any size.
The workplace has seen many changes over the years. Until recently, most consisted of large corner offices for the top guys, more modest private offices for middle managers and the rest of the team in what was often described as a cubicle farm. This at least gave everyone a little space to call their own and put up a photo of the wife, the family pet or an out of date meme.
While the top executives might still have their fancy offices, many of the rest of us mere mortals now work in a very different environment. Often, this will be in a co-working environment.
We have all seen the funky designs, slides, video games, bowling alleys and climbing walls at some of the behemoths like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. Most of the population still work in a somewhat less exciting and inspiring environment.
Before we consider the positive and negative aspects it is important to understand what co-working is and what it looks like.
Put simply, co-working is a shared office area where workers generally share office equipment, IT infrastructure, meeting rooms, common areas, kitchens, and bathrooms. Often even support staff such as receptionist and secretaries are shared by the users of the co-working office.
Space or desks can be allocated to specific companies or individuals or could be dynamic. In a dynamic area, you simply find an empty workstation, plug in and get working.
Love it or hate it, the concept is becoming increasingly popular.
Initially, the concept appealed to small startups, freelancers and solopreneurs. It gave them access to the space and services they needed as well as a professional front for their business without the massive overheads of running their own office.
Over time, medium and even larger companies came to see the benefits.
Cost:
Office overheads are high and constant. Most space is underutilized for a large part of the day. Co-working allows for the best use of the space and the cost of common areas, meeting rooms, kitchens, restrooms, break areas and other space can be shared proportionately by those that use the facility.
IT infrastructure and maintenance costs, office automation such as copiers, printers and other equipment, telephone systems and other essential equipment and infrastructure costs can be shared.
The cost of support staff such as receptionists, cleaning, maintenance, security, and others is also shared according to the space requirements of each individual or organization in the co-working environment.
Group buying power can also reduce the cost of office supplies and consumables that the individuals or smaller businesses would not normally benefit from.
Modern companies need to be agile and flexible. Expanding a traditional office is a slow and expensive exercise if even possible. It might mean relocating as you expand. Co-working allows you to expand faster and with less disruption and expense.
Importantly, it also allows you to scale back if and when necessary. With co-working you can scale your business as and when necessary including seasonal expansion or visiting contingents.
Speed to market
Building on the above point, speed to market is often a critical success factor in modern business. Setting up a new office in a new territory is not only expensive but time-consuming. Co-working spaces could allow you to set up immediately with little to no delays.
Professional Image
Co-working allows smaller companies, individuals, freelancers, and solopreneurs to have a professional office space and an environment that could improve their status and image for the fraction of the cost of a traditional office.
Having a wide mix of skills and talents in the same space could result in networking opportunities and skills sharing that could be of great benefit to all involved. This is a growing trend and much easier to achieve face to face than online.
While many people believe they work better alone, be it at home or elsewhere, this is rarely the case. We are social animals and need the company of others around us. Co-working allows people to get on with their work without the isolation and loneliness that often comes with working alone.
IQ Offices 250 University Ave Location
Stimulating environment
Budget offices, which many might have to resort to as an alternative to co-working spaces, are more likely to be drab and uninspiring. The shared costs allow the better co-working offices to have modern designs with great features and an excellent feel.
Some have amazing facilities including quality food and beverage facilities, health centers, excellent breakrooms, and recreational facilities.
What are the downsides?
Co-working is not all rainbows and butterflies and there are some downsides. While there are many benefits, it is important to access the negative aspects before committing to the concept.
Privacy
Many people like to be the master of their own domain and have a spot they can call their own. Most co-working spaces are open plan although there are flexible options. Some workers might be bothered by the guy two desks down that slurps his coffee loudly or the aggressive sales guy making booming phone calls all day. While this can happen in any office environment one has less control over these situations in a shared space.
Some companies have concerns that competitors might take up space in the same environment. This can be discussed with the managers of the environment but again, this could present opportunities for collaboration that might not otherwise become evident.
Hours
You might have urgent deadlines or simply prefer working odd hours. Many co-working environments have 24-hour access but check on this before deciding.
Control
With your own office, you have control over all aspects of the environment. In a shared environment, you will have to sacrifice much of that control for the benefits it provides. If you do not like the artwork in reception or the color of the walls, it will not be up to you to make changes.
The rapid growth in the popularity of co-working is a testimony to the many benefits it offers. While it may not work for everyone, for many, it allows them to focus on their work without the stress of running an office. If you need a place for yourself or your staff to work from, co-working is certainly worth considering.
