What is co-working?
Co-working is when people from multiple different workforces and companies occupy workspace the same office building. Spaces that are set-up for this are then aptly known as a co-working spaces. Co-workers should have access to the same kinds of amenities that traditional office workers do. This includes:
- Toilets
- Meeting areas
- Kitchen amenities
- WiFi
- Printers
Depending on the needs of the co-worker, these spaces may also offer PCs and the attached equipment.
What kinds of co-working spaces are there?
Just like there are different workplaces out there that cater to the needs of their workers, there are different kinds of co-working spaces on offer. The most common include:
- Open workspaces: This includes spaces that have many desks in the one area. These desks are not separated by offices, though some can have partitions. Both hot desks and dedicated desks are options of an open co-working space.
- Private offices: This space is really how it sounds. A co-worker with a private office will be the only person assigned to this closed office area. The office areas are walled and separated from the other spaces within the building.
- Industry-specific workspaces: Some co-working spaces are only for a particular workforce, regardless of the company they are connected to. These kinds of spaces can allow for collaboration of like-minded workers. Industry-specific workspaces can give co-workers access to industry-standard software and technology that other workers do not need.
Hot desk vs private desk
A hot desk is a temporary desk in an open co-working space that you can rent. They are usually short-term rentals and can be booked for anywhere between a few hours to a few days. Hot desks usually require you to bring your own equipment with you.
A private desk is a longer-term co-working space rental. Like hot desks, private desks are also situated in open workspaces, but you are able to rent them for months or even years. Because this space is dedicated to you, no one else can use it even if you’re not there on certain days. This means that you can personalise your space.
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Who uses co-working spaces
Co-working spaces are an attractive solution for any kind of worker. Whether you are a remote worker, self-employed, freelancer, business, or even simply travelling for work, co-working can be beneficial for you.
Self-employed individuals and freelancers
Those who work for themselves and thus don’t necessarily have an office space nor a dedicated room at home for their work time.
Travelling workers
Some workers need to travel for their jobs and, as a result, don’t have a dedicated office building to go to every day. The solution for workers in this situation is either to do their work in a busy local area, in their hotel room, or in a co-working space.
Remote workers
The push to work from home or work remotely has been increasing in recent years, but there are many workers who can’t do this or would prefer to work separately from their homes. Co-working spaces can offer these workers temporary or more permanent spaces where they can dedicate their time and focus to working and help get that healthy work-life balance.
Small businesses
Your business may only have a small number of employees which can make renting out an office building an expensive endeavour. By utilising a co-working space for you and your employees, you can provide them with a dedicated workspace that features every amenity of an office building while saving money on rent.
Large businesses
Those large businesses have their own office space, they can have some need for extra desks or meeting rooms. This is where co-working spaces can help by providing flexible and timely solutions.
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The overall benefits of co-working
Using a co-working space for yourself or your business can be beneficial on a health level, a finance level, and a convenience level. The biggest benefits of renting out a co-working space are as follows:
- Assists in achieving a healthy work-life balance
- Allows for the social side of work
- Flexible and adaptable
- Cheaper than an office building
If you want to learn more about how these benefits could positively impact your life, check out our other blog: The benefits of working in a co-working space.