The benefits of shared office space are abundant – providing start-ups with instant networking opportunities, offering the office camaraderie home working lacks, access to essential office facilities and providing businesses with cost-effective ‘bases’ in important locations.
With such a levy of benefits at a company’s disposal, it’s hardly surprising co-working spaces have become so popular worldwide.
This infographic we published a couple of weeks ago is a great way to see the benefits for employers and employees when we use shared offices.
With 90% of UK professionals believing flexible working is the way forward and will be the most common employment model in the near future, a growing number of employers are enabling workers to work when and where they choose.
A survey conducted by specialist HR recruiter Ortus showed that 51% of the 450 professionals that participated in the research said they felt clear the rising popularity and growth of flexible working stemmed through increased business efficiency and productivity.
As Stephen Menko, UK director of Ortus said of the findings:
“The business case [for flexible working] is obvious as it allows for efficiency savings on office costs and greater output.”
This said, bosses might recognise and be activity encouraging the benefits of flexible working arrangements but that doesn’t mean to say they don’t want to keep up-to-date about the work that’s being done in ‘out of office’ locations and hours.
Take a look at the following seven things about co-working your boss wants to know.
Sufficient facilities
The onset of Wi-Fi, mobile technology and advancements in telecommunications has made the whole working remotely concept possible.
Just because you have been given the privilege of being able to work at a centre closer to your home does not mean your boss wants you ‘out of sight, out of mind.’
Your boss will want to know that any remote working space you choose to work from, has the vital modern facilities, such as Wi-Fi, phone access, printing amenities and a means of communicating with you instantly.
Your hours of work
One of the best components of flexible models is that it enables employees to work round other commitments, such as school runs. That said, business hours are still business hours, and your boss will want to know when he or she can get hold of you to talk business.
Results
Your boss may have heard about the alleged productivity benefits but unless an employer has actual evidence of improved efficiency and productivity it remains alleged.
Your boss has given you the freedom to work flexibly in a co-working, remote environment the very least you can do is ‘put your money where your mouth is’ and prove its worth. In this sense, your boss is likely to want to receive regular reports related to the amount of time being spent on different tasks and progress within each task.
Even if your boss hasn’t asked to see certain reports, show proactivity by sending him or her regular reports and updates that demonstrates productivity and efficiency.
We wrote a blog on growing and staying inspired with co-working that goes into more detail.
Cost effectiveness
It is within every company CEO and director’s interest to save their business money. Without making a commitment to pay for expensive office rent for the next 18 months, yet still benefitting from professional office facilities and space, co-working centres can save employers a significant amount of money.
As the Billfold writes:
“It allows you to work in shared offices with other like-minded companies to shave down costs. Additionally, if parties can work out a schedule for using the office space including conference rooms, it can be similar to having your own office space at a fraction of the cost.”
Staff morale
Flexible, remote working in which you can spend more time with family instead of hours commuting on a train or in the car boosts staff morale, right?
Giving workers the freedom to work flexibly and remotely suggests a degree of trust has been formed between employee and employer.
According to Inc.com’s 10 tips for boosting employee morale, a culture of trust needs to be built within a workforce.
In this sense, allowing employees to work remotely from co-working centres demonstrates an element of trust, which subsequently equates to improving staff morale, something that your boss will want to know.
Professionalism
If you are representing a company outside of ‘traditional’ office parameters, a boss will want to know that you are doing so in a professional manner.
Whether you are working from a professional co-working space in Leeds, London or Manchester, the beauty of modern spaces is they are designed with professionalism at the core.
From state-of-the-art reception areas to meeting rooms equipped with the latest facilities and technology, your boss is likely to want to know that the space you are working from is professional, particularly if you are meeting clients or potential clients in the centre.
Loyalty
Being surrounded by creative, like-minded, energetic professionals, in which networking is rife, your boss might worry you might get poached and coaxed into going to another company.
Reassure your boss that this will not be the case and you are extremely content at the company you are in.
Are you hot desking and co-working in Leeds? What else do you think bosses would like to know about shared office space in Leeds? If you’ve got any suggestions we’re all ears.