What is Desk Sharing?
Instead of assigning each employee a permanent desk, a desk sharing policy allows employees to share desks. An employee can book or work at any available desk, and when they’re done, they can leave the desk for another person to utilize.
The goal of desk sharing is to make better use of space and save money for the company. It’s designed to do rid of the boring, monotonous concept of performing the same thing every day for employees. Desk sharing gives both parties the flexibility they need to work more efficiently while also establishing a nice, healthy workplace culture.
Shared desks tips
The etiquette of desk sharing is not something everyone is familiar with, especially people who have not had to share desks before. To help here is a list of a few tips that employees and anyone else sharing a desk must know before they do so.
Tip: Create an official document (like a policy) with all these tips and guidelines that you can later circulate to your employees once desk sharing is implemented in your space.
- Workspaces should be booked in advance whenever possible
- Keep your workstation clean and always clear up once you are finished working
- Keep noise to a minimum so as to not distract others. Use headphones to avoid unnecessary noise for others.
- Follow the hygiene practices that are set out in the office
- Leave communal areas how you found them
- Respect the privacy of other workers
- If you are ill or sick avoid using a desk sharing space
- Make sure you understand the desk sharing policy
Shared desk pros and cons
Desk sharing can have its ups and downs for many reasons. Depending on what kind of worker you are you may think they are more beneficial than not, or vice versa. To get a full perspective we must look at what are the pros and cons of desk sharing.
Pros
- Lower costs
- Saves space
- Increases your space’s flexibility
- Allows for better teamwork and sociability
- Supports a flexible work
- Increases staff well-being and promotes a better work culture
- Promotes cleanliness in the workplace
All these benefits are great reasons to start a shared desk space in your office. Lower costs plus the addition of saved space should be enough to incentivize you, however, there are still a few roadblocks that may stop you from following through with implementing desk sharing. Let’s now look at the cons.
Cons
- No personal or private space for employees
- Could promote exclusivity between employees
- It may take employees longer to settle in
- It may cause a few more disruptions at work
- It may be difficult for IT to implement
If you’re concerned about how your employees may react or what may change in your company culture then you might be hesitant to fully implement the process.
Should you start desk sharing?
Every office is different and unique. Implementing shared desks is a big decision that can change a lot around the office. It may cause people to be less or more productive. It may also make people happier or more upset.
The best way to figure out if desk sharing is right for your organization is to simply analyze the pros and cons as well as your company’s culture, employees, productivity, and budget. While change may be something people can be resistant to, it’s also something that can truly benefit your workplace if done correctly.
Make sure that you use all the data you’ve gathered to make an informed decision about whether you should implement one or not.
Don’t forget that the best way to stay on top of desk sharing is to implement a desk booking software that can help you and your team navigate the best ways to share desks and be organized while doing it.
Archie is a great software that can help you organize desks, assign them to people, have people book them and check-in, among so many other features.
To learn more about Archie and how it can help you implement a great shared desk system click here.
Conclusion
Desk sharing can be a great opportunity to engage your employees more together as well as bring in a more flexible work policy. In addition, you can also save on space and costs by implementing a shared desk system.
