Things are looking up this spring, and people are slowly but surely making their way out of the house and back into the world. Part of this movement is the return to in-office work; we miss our coworkers, our old water cooler conversations, and maybe even our commutes (because when else do we get uninterrupted podcast time?).
This past year demonstrated that a traditional 9-5 in the office isn’t the only way to get work done, but that working from home 100% of the time isn’t ideal either. Coworking spaces can help corporate teams reimagine what “the office” looks like and are here to offer the flexibility we all need to transition into a new normal.
Here are just a few of the reasons why remote workers thrive in coworking spaces:
Promotes better work-life balance:
Countless reports in the past year show that employees are working more hours per day than they ever have, taking shorter lunch breaks, and logging in to work during the holidays. While this may sound great to an employer, we have to wonder about employee productivity and wellbeing.
With all the distractions that come with working from home, it takes longer to complete the same amount of work. This creates a work-life imbalance that damages our mental health and leaves us feeling overdone. People are facing burnout and fatigue at alarming rates and feel like there’s no way out.
Giving employees the opportunity to log some hours at your local coworking space will leave them with a clear mind and a productive high. People who visit our space say things like “I got more done here in three hours than I do in an entire day at my home office.”
Fosters employee collaboration:
We miss chatting with our favorite coworkers, but zoom fatigue is real and no one wants to set up yet another call just to catch up. If your team has a private office, you can form a team pod, or set up time in a socially distant meeting room.
It’s very like that you work closely with coworkers who you’ve never actually met in person. Maybe you’re a new hire and don’t feel like you fully mesh with the team yet, or maybe you manage a team and are looking for ways to welcome and get to know newer employees. Virtual happy hours and team-building calls can only go so far; there’s really no substitute for face-to-face connection.
For people managing a remote team, you can test drive hybrid working and in-person meetings. We recommend looking for a multi-person office that your team can rotate in and out of in shifts; this will help maximize your membership and keep your people safe.
Offers ultimate flexibility:
We’re all sick of our houses at this point, but most workers aren’t too eager to go back to commuting every day of the week. We’re excited to see work reimagined in the coming months and years in a way that’s built around people’s wellbeing and quality of life.
Bear in mind that many people are still juggling childcare and other things that would make it difficult to be out of the house full time. We’re understanding more and more that we can’t just flip a switch and expect things to be normal again.
Coworking spaces give people an opportunity to dip a toe into working outside the home again, without feeling like their boss is looking over their shoulder or judging them if they need to go home frequently. With many schools still being virtual or hybrid, it’s important for working parents to be close to home so they can be there for their kids on a moment’s notice.
For individuals working remotely, check to see if your company offers a stipend for office or coworking space. In the interest of their employees’ safety, many companies are playing it super safe right now and don’t want to mandate employees being back in the office, so they’re offering to foot the bill for a coworking membership. Take advantage of the autonomy they’re offering and find a workspace that feels safe and fits your unique needs.
Here at FireWorks, we know that no one size fits all. That’s why we have a custom plan option listed on our website, right next to all our other membership plans. Whatever your team is struggling with, we’re here to help however we can. We can create a custom corporate membership to fit your specific needs and help your team find a new way to work.
