While many of us have become well acquainted with the work from home life, it has been different for a lot of us. One person might have screaming children running around the house in one home and a partner that is a key worker. In another home, someone might be child-free but have to share a smaller cramped space with their other half working from home too. And then there are the people who seem like they got the best deal, to work at home all by themselves with no distractions- but do they see it like that?
Working from home has its benefits, there is no denying that, and many of us would jump at the opportunity to stay in bed for an extra half an hour or spend our lunch break having a nap rather than having to talk to our co-workers who have very strong opinions on the Royal Family or the one that insists on using the microwave for 10 minutes to defrost an array of lunch tapas.
But for those who are less productive when Netflix is only a button away or the ambiverts among us that miss having some social interaction throughout the day, ‘hot desking’ can provide a happy medium. Just read this piece to find out more about what hot desking is, and the benefits you can enjoy from it!
What is Hot Desking?
Hot desking is essentially a system where you can pay for a time slot spent at a desk among other freelance or working professionals in a relaxed environment. It is an ad hoc method, so you will find that many different people from all different careers, backgrounds, and businesses will drift in and out under one roof.
Save On Office Costs
It is no secret that renting office space is super costly for businesses, whether you have many employees or not. Your overheads will always be large compared to hot-desking if your business is technology-centered such as a digital marketing or software company. While there are good reasons to have an office hub, and hot-desking is not suitable for everyone, it is definitely a great alternative to a rented space– especially if you are starting out! There are no deposits, start-up costs, or leases to sign, and you will find that within the price of a hot desk slot, there will be other benefits, too, such as amenities included.
Meet Likeminded People
It can be difficult for those who are self-employed, freelance, or work alone to have someone to bounce ideas off, or maybe you need to have a conversation with others to get the creative juices going. When you are in a city such as Bristol, an office space can bring plenty of new opportunities to talk to other people and get to know other businesses – maybe even network!
Useful Amenities
When you rent a hot desk, you are not only renting the actual desk but also the amenities that come with it. Most of the time, these additions are well worth the hot desk price and can include free coffee and tea, use of the kitchen facilities, meeting rooms that can be used, fast, reliable WiFi, and printing facilities on site! Not to forget there will be attended bathrooms in the building too. This knocks off a significant amount of hassle, offering you everything you could need to go about your day in a working space, whether you are a freelance professional, a start-up business, or a fully established company looking for a little more flexibility.
Non- Committal Working Space
Whether you find yourself in and out of different cities, looking for a space to work that is not your hotel room, or you prefer having a separate space from home a couple of days a week, a hot desk in the perfect middle ground. Not only do they often come with the aforementioned benefits, but you can just book by time and only pay for what you need, which makes this option convenient for those who know they are going to have to get their head down for a couple of days- perhaps there is something noisy going on at home like the neighbors having building work done, or the children are on half term! It also means that if a particular office is not to your standard, or does not quite offer the facilities you want, then you can move around as many times as you like to find the right hot desk space for you.
