Is There An Opportunity For Part-Time Offices In The Flexible Office Sector?

The idea of ​​a part-time vacation home is not new, but the concept of a flexible part-time office is a more recent phenomenon. It is still very rare for companies to take up flexible part-time offices, but if this idea takes hold, the future possibilities could be huge.

How does it work ? Let’s say you have two companies: Company A and Company B with a private office. Company A can choose to use the premises on Monday and Tuesday, while Company B uses the premises from Wednesday to Friday. This can be done in different ways: companies can alternate weeks, alternate morning and afternoon, or even more than two companies can share an office.

In general, the cost is distributed proportionately. If the total monthly cost of the office is 5,000 €, the company that occupies the premises two days a week will pay 2,000 € / month and the one that occupies them three days a week will pay 3,000 € / month.

This type of contract is different from a standard contract for a private office in a flexible workspace, where typically a company rents a number of offices for a certain period of time and the space is not shared with d ‘other people. It is also different from renting a non-dedicated office in a coworking space, where offices are defined on a first-come, first-served basis, but also from renting a dedicated office where offices are reserved for advance on a much shorter basis than a part-time office.

Benefits Of Flexible Part-Time Offices

The main advantage of a part-time office is the fact that businesses can benefit from more flexibility when it comes to their office expenses. We expect greater flexibility of employees in the years to come, especially in terms of the workplace, especially in a post-COVID-19 world. A recent Savills survey found that 34% of employees would like to work from home two days a week. A flexible part-time office can provide some structure to remote working arrangements – you have a guaranteed workplace for a set period of time.

Flexible part-time offices can meet a number of needs and dramatically reduce office costs for businesses that would otherwise have paid for an entire office and ended up with vacant space on days their employees work remotely. Whether you are a self-employed person, a five-person start-up, or a large corporation, saving on office costs is an attractive proposition, especially in these times when many businesses have seen their sales drop and costs are cutting back. is a necessity.

Another advantage of flexible part-time offices is the environmental aspect. The fact that space is used more efficiently and that resources are shared can have significant environmental benefits. In a world where the emphasis is increasingly on sustainability, this is key.

Disadvantages Of Flexible Part-Time Offices

This setting up of flexible part-time offices also poses problems. There can be legal issues, especially when it comes to dilapidation. For example, if a wall is damaged, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to know which company is responsible for the damage. Similar liability issues can arise for stolen goods. One solution is to adopt a policy similar to workspaces where people remove all their belongings and clear their desks at the end of the day. Lockers can be provided to prevent people from having to bring all their belongings home at the end of the day.

Another downside is that you have to find a business that has needs for reverse desks to yours, i.e. if Business A wants the workspace on Monday and Friday, the other company will have to agree to use it on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. This is especially difficult because the concept of a flexible part-time office is fairly new and not many companies are familiar with it, although it could develop well over time.

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Part-Time Job

How To Set Up A Collaborative Workspace?

To allow each employee to evolve in an ideal infrastructure, the latter must be adapted accordingly. Whether it is furniture or tools, it is advisable to think of the smallest details that would make work sessions more productive. The first step is to clearly define each work area, then to arrange each area according to its functionality.

Individual Work Desks

In a collaborative workspace, an individual workspace must be sufficiently acoustically isolated to cut out noise pollution and allow good concentration. The brightness must be optimal and an elaborate decoration in warm colors will be appreciated to promote the feeling of well-being.

Collaborative Common Spaces

Collaborative common spaces are open spaces focused on conviviality. For open spaces, it is advisable to limit the number of shared workstations to 10, in order to minimize noise pollution. So that everyone can comfortably evolve into a collaborative workspace, it is also important to think about setting up meeting areas, as well as a cafeteria area, meals, or a relaxation area. To separate these areas without losing light, it is recommended to opt for transparent partitions, which will let in natural light while offering a little more privacy.

coworking workspace

Equipment For Work Desks

Ideally, desks in a collaborative workspace should have everything you need to work with, just like in any fixed office. Thus, for a well-appointed work desk, it is necessary to provide coworkers with simple and functional furniture, easy-to-move storage, comfortable chairs, not to mention decorative elements such as plants. For meeting rooms or individual offices, consider whiteboards and markers, little details that can make coworkers’ lives easier.

Furnishings For More Well-Being

For optimal comfort, the ideal furniture in a collaborative workspace must be ergonomic and flexible. All furniture that is easy to transport and store will be appreciated because of the coworkers’ mobility. Very often, chairs and desks are moved, replaced or moved as needed. Office chairs must be adjustable, preferably on casters, plenty of personalized storage, and upgradeable furniture. It is important to ensure the installation of sockets for charging computer devices, in the same way that it may be wise to think of offering a “sit-stand” workstation, very practical to avoid the purely seated station for many hours.

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Collaborative Workspace

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