Male working on the laptop.jpg
Male working on the laptop.jpg

The rise of hot desking

Reading time: 5 min
by Cecily Batten - Global Marketing Leader
None of us are strangers to flexible and hybrid working anymore. The fact is it is the future of the workplace. According to a Bitkom study, more than 60 percent of respondents reported that their company have continued to support them in working from home, for at least some of the time.

For a further 20 percent, this is expected to be the case for at least the next three years. Further studies have also supported these findings. According to another study, most respondents prefer a flexible model when it comes to working patterns. In the future, employees of the private sector would prefer to work two days a week in the office – and thus the majority in the home office or other possible places.

Therefore, embracing the hot-desk mentality will work in your favour for the future – lets learn why you’d benefit from giving it a go (if you haven’t already!)

4 benefits of Hot Desking

Increase employee productivity

Studies have shown that companies that have hot-desking make their employees feel more productive, efficient, and creative.

46% of workers felt they were more productive in a hot desk environment compared to working at their own desk.

Appeal to the next generation

With the next generation joining the workforce, hot-desking is an ideal way to create an appealing environment. You'll see improvement in not only recruitment but retaining talent.

In our previous blog, we explained what Generation Z is looking for in an employer and one stand out was flexible working. Hot desking would allow employees to book the desk they need at a time that suits them.

Communication and collaboration between teams

Mixing up where people are working allows your employees to interact with other teams, they may not have had the chance to beforehand.

You'll create an environment of open communication and ensure there's an understanding of the wider company and the impact everyone has.

Lower cost

With more people working at home, large commercial offices are notoriously expensive.

Global Workplace Analytics found that desks in offices are empty almost 60% of the time. Hot desking would allow you to rent a smaller space that employees can use when needed and would ultimately reduce overall expenditure in real estate.

What would I need to make hot-desking work?

There’s no need to worry about what you can offer if you adapt to the hot desk work style.

Your employees will still be in and out of the office, so how can you make it fit their needs?

Make it an inviting environment. With hot-desking, you can adapt your office to have a more communal and collaborative space. Yes, it may be a smaller office, but you can include break-out areas, meeting space, and desks.

A break-out space encourages relaxation and social interactions. Staff members will return to their work feeling revived, refreshed, and ready to do their best.

Flexible solutions come in all shapes and sizes, especially when it comes to adaptable food and beverages. Traditional catering would be very tricky in this environment, but there are loads of options to suit your needs.

A Foodies MicroMarket is a tailored self-serve food and beverage solution accessible to staff 24/7. You'll have a variety of refreshments at your fingertips, no matter the time or how many people are in the office.