Could ‘hot-desking’ be the way forward for your business

Hot-desking is the practise of a business removing personal desks to save space and reduce costs. Instead of each member of staff having their own desk, they are instead available on a first come, first served basis.

Is it a good idea where your own particular company is concerned? Stick around, because we’re exploring if ‘hot-desking’ is the way for ward for your business.

Why choose hot-desking?

Hot-desking has been proven to save money on office space, with some businesses reporting cost savings of up to 30%. Any sort of savings that a company is able to make can have a huge impact, especially in these uncertain times. What’re more, money isn’t the only benefit of hot-desking…

Did you know that it could lead to a different type of working environment – one that encourages communications and teamwork far more than the usual office environment that we are so used to? Hot-desking can help to create a more inclusive and happier workplace. Due to this, more and more large corporations are turning to the hot-desking method for their offices.

Negatives of hot-desking

Although on paper hot-desking seems like a no brainer, when it comes to running a business successfully the opinions of your staff matters greatly. Your employees are not going to do their best work unless they feel comfortable in their space and the stress is minimal. As you can imagine, many people simply like to have their own desk, and they enjoy personalising their space with photos of loved ones and the comfort of knowing where everything is kept.

Due to this, some companies have reported up to 25% dips in productivity due to hot-desking being implemented. Hot-desking can also have a negative impact on the focus of employees, as it makes auditory and visual distractions more abundant. This could decrease the quality of work that is being produced.

In a survey carried out in 2012, 90% of all respondents reported that hot-desking had a negative effect on morale and stress levels. These are the two biggest factors that contribute to productivity and staff turnover in the workplace. In saying this, it’s important to have some employee wellbeing services, some of which you can find at https://www.lifeworks.com/uk/.

Hot-desking is also less hygienic than the usual method of individual desks. Unless the office is properly cleaned every night, germs are going to spread around the office quicker than usual. This is something a company should definitely take into account, especially in this day and age where cleanliness and hygiene is more vital than ever. This study shows that on average, hot-desking offices have dirtier desks that normal.

 

Our Thoughts

Hot-desking is definitely an interesting idea, and nobody can downplay the possible savings and other benefits that it could bring to a company. However, unless your company is really struggling as it is and is it desperate need of a change, why shake things up?

Looking at the potential negatives that hot-desking could bring, is it really a good idea to take such a risk, and cause potential damage to your employees’ mental health? Let us know about your experience with hot-desking!