Hot desking and hybrid work models have been a thing for a while now, but the pandemic caused the workplace to evolve. People no longer wanted to work in such close proximity to their colleagues, for fear of catching the virus. It wasn’t long before companies started allowing workers to work from home, even big companies like Microsoft and Apple. If you’re thinking of implementing a hybrid hot desking solution into your office, here are some of the pros and cons to consider first.
A More Flexible Approach
Employees love the flexibility afforded by a hybrid working arrangement. Most people hate having to commute to work every day, so if they can easily do their job from home some of the time, it makes sense to let that happen.
Hot desking is also more flexible in terms of office layout. Nothing is stopping you from moving desks around at any time to suit your needs, whereas, in a regular office, employees usually have their workspace set up in a particular way and don’t appreciate such changes.
More Cost-Effective
Anything that can reduce operating costs is a good thing for a business. With energy prices rising, it makes sense to look for ways to save money. Hybrid work models are an easy way to do this. Because there are fewer employees in the office at any given time, you can relocate to a smaller office and pay less money on rent, energy, telecoms, cleaning, and more.
Greater Collaboration
In a traditional office, people always sit at the same desk, near the same people. Hot desking and hybrid work models are far more flexible. Every day is different, and not everyone is in the office at the same time or sitting in the same place. This means people who might not otherwise have spoken have an opportunity to chat, share ideas, and bond. And as any good manager knows, team bonding is the best way to improve collaboration on joint projects.
The Disadvantages of Hybrid Working
There are also a few downsides to a hybrid work model, which should not be ignored.
The first is the potential for workplace disruption. When employees come in not knowing where they are going to sit, it can take them a while to get set up for work. Setting up a laptop and connecting to the office network is time lost.
Another problem is that hot desking can impact employee well-being. Some people have particular needs or require a specific setup in their workstations. It might be a special chair or a desk at a set height. It could also be that they prefer using a desktop PC from Lenovo.com with dual monitors rather than a laptop. Flexible hot desking is not going to make these employees happy, and if their issues are related to any sort of disability, you can’t afford to ignore their complaints.
Hot desking and hybrid work models don’t suit all businesses, but in many cases, it is a positive change. However, it is a good idea to canvas your employees before you make any adjustments to their workdays.
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