How Your Hybrid Workers Will Benefit From Access To Coworking Spaces 

Looking to maximize the productivity of your employees? Think it's time to have your workers back at the office? 

As humans, we all have different work styles and preferences - some are more productive in an office setting while others are more productive when they work from home.

With more and more businesses transitioning to a post Covid-19 work environment, employers are left with answering the million-dollar question on whether to have their staff continue to work from home, report back to the office, or explore the possibilities of what’s now called hybrid workers.    

As an employer, striking a perfect work-life balance with your team is an essential ingredient for long-term success.

So, what should you do? You can ponder about the pros and cons of each setup, but the truth is, some employees will produce better results when working from home than in an office setting and vice-versa. 

If you’re undecided, the quick fix here would be to test a hybrid setup. This setup will not only compensate for the disadvantages of an on-site or work from home (WFH) setup, but will also increase employee retention, productivity, and engagement. 

This setup will give your employees days where they don’t need to worry about commuting to work the next day, be excited to meet and collaborate with colleagues on a certain project, and have more freedom to schedule meetings with clients in their favorite coffee shops, restaurants, coworking spaces, or any other alternative locations where you and your client are most comfortable.    

In this article, we’ll discuss the perks of having a coworking space for your employees.

What is a coworking space?

A coworking space is a shared office space where individuals of different professions work independently or in groups to collaborate on different projects. It’s become a trend as of late, and we’re not just talking about the coworking spaces in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, or other big cities in the United States; its demand has stretched to all parts of the globe as employees (remote and hybrid) look for innovative ways to maximize productivity, increase their number of connections, and avoid social isolation.   

How in demand are coworking spaces in today’s world? Here are some statistics:

• There will be about 41,975 coworking spaces worldwide by the end of 2024 (Statista). 
• The Asia-Pacific is the largest coworking region with over 11,000 coworking spaces (SmallBizGenius).
• In 2017, there was a 90% increase in the number of enterprise companies utilizing coworking spaces (Fundera). 

How can hybrid workers benefit from coworking spaces?

Hybrid workers benefit the most from flexible working spaces. With over 68% of employees preferring a hybrid setup moving forward, this now paints a clearer picture that coworking spaces are here to stay! 

What makes this setup so preferred by employees?

Easy. Two words. Coworking spaces! Over 70% of workers reportedly felt healthier in a coworking space than a traditional office setup. And 92% say they’re satisfied working in a coworking space. 

1. Expand your current network

Going to coworking spaces allows your hybrid workers to meet other dedicated professionals across different industries - some of the people your employees meet will have a unique skill set and can teach and motivate them to put their best foot forward, expand your company’s network, and foster professional development.

As renowned businessman Jim Rohn once said: “You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

2. Increase motivation 

When your employees are working from home, it can be easier for them to divert their attention from a task at hand. Chores, tv, and social media are just some of the distractions that may get in the way of their willingness to do work. even if you use different project management tools to monitor their productivity. 

Being exposed to a coworking space will increase motivation among hybrid workers for two main reasons:

• They’re surrounded by like-minded individuals
• They’ll hold themselves more accountable by making the most of your investment (monthly subscriptions, day pass, etc.)

3. Increase productivity

It can be easy to get carried away with the freedom of having a flexible schedule. When your employees work in a coworking space, you help the:

• Establish a firm work environment
• Expose them to new ideas and perspectives
• Refresh their minds to different surroundings

In an article written by Elizabeth Dukes, co-founder and EVP of iOffice, she notes that:

• 64% of employees in coworking spaces are better able to meet deadlines   
• 68% of employees have improved focus in coworking spaces
• 71% of employees experience enhanced creativity while working in coworking spaces
• 53% of employees feel less stressed in a coworking environment

4. More flexibility

The best coworking spaces are generally open 24/7. Giving you and your employees more flexibility to work when they’re most productive and provides a better work-life balance. 

In a coworking space, employees don’t need to change who they are to fit into the company culture - making them less distracted and more focused on producing outputs.

*Coworking spaces also allow you to maintain physical and mental health through using innovative desk setups. 

5. Develop a sense of community

Working in a secluded environment for most of the week can feel isolating and lead to burnout. Despite how well designed a home office setup can be, as naturally social creatures, we long for interaction and connection. Going to a coworking space will expose your employees to a social atmosphere where they can interact with others.

They have more flexibility to work whenever they want, within certain limitations of course. Just be careful how you frame the conversation as some employees might exploit this advantage - causing a decline in their level of productivity.

6. Reduce total costs

Working in coworking spaces gives your employees everything they’ll need at a fraction of the cost. They'll have high-speed internet, printers, meeting rooms, snacks, and even beverages. 

For example, The Farm Soho, takes the coworking experience a step further; offering a premium virtual mailbox service, HR, insurance and payroll support, private phone booth and conference room access, event venues - and a pet-friendly environment! 

Giving your employees (particularly remote employees) access to coworking spaces will also make them feel valued by the company.

Final thoughts

As we continue the transition to the ‘new normal’ way of life in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, being innovative with your business model will lead to increased productivity, motivation, and engagement from your employees. 

With more and more big-name companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Shopify looking to grow their work from home setups, this should be a good indicator that your business can achieve success with it as well… but be sure to check in with your people from time to time and connect with them through email, chats, and video calls.

Meanwhile, feel free to contact us here at The Farm SoHo if you want to learn more about our coworking spaces and private office space for rent in NYC.

“Learning how to rein in your thoughts and focus is going to help you to achieve your goals in life. Without focus, you can never achieve anything.” - Eric Phillips