Hot-Desking: The Modern Office’s Pros and Cons

By Moon Harper

May 17, 2024 05:00 AM EDT

According to Tawny Lott Rodriguez, director of human resources at Rowland Hall in Salt Lake City, a workplace trend called hot-desking has emerged as hybrid work environments multiply. In this trend, employees use communal instead of assigned desks amid the rise of flexible work arrangements and a focus on space optimization.

What Is Hot-Desking?

Hot-desking, also known as hoteling, hotel offices, and hotel-style workspaces, allows workers to choose from available desks or reserve or rent a workstation on a daily basis.

Hot-Desking in The Workplace

While hot-desking is often seen as a trend employers love and workers hate, Rodriguez emphasizes its mixed reception. It can foster collaboration and a sense of community while disrupting focus, making personalization difficult, and leading to feelings of isolation. While some enjoy the flexibility and change of scenery, others find it impersonal and disruptive.

Matt Jones, CEO of WonderDays, an online experience-days gifts provider, said that while hot-desking supports his company's flexible workspace needs and inspires creativity through varied environments, not all employees appreciate the lack of a permanent space. Hence, WonderDays provides personal lockers and designated quiet areas to give employees a sense of permanence and some personal space.

Pros and Cons of Hot-Desking

Whether you are an employer or an employee, and depending on your specific circumstances, hot-desking can have both advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the main pros and cons of this trend:

Pros for Companies:

Space efficiency: Companies can optimize their office space by not assigning desks to individual employees.

Collaboration: Hot-desking can promote team interaction as workers change their seating arrangements regularly.

Cost savings: Companies can reduce expenses by not providing a dedicated desk for each staff member.

Pros for Employees:

Flexibility: Employees can select a workspace based on their daily tasks, giving them more options than a fixed desk.

Change of scenery: Some workers may appreciate the opportunity to work in different environments rather than being confined to a specific desk.

Sense of community: Sitting in various locations can make it easier for some employees to collaborate and socialize with co-workers.

Cons for Companies:

Decreased loyalty: Without an assigned workspace, employees might feel less loyal, which could potentially affect retention.

Less engagement: Employees may feel less engaged, productive, and focused without their workspace.

Reduced efficiency: Constantly moving from one place to another might hinder workers' efficiency.

Cons for Employees:

Personalization limitations: Employees cannot personalize their workstations or exhibit personal items regularly, potentially reducing comfort.

Disruption from desk changes: Daily transitions between desks may cause a sense of disruption for employees.

Difficulty maintaining focus: On certain occasions, employees may struggle to locate a quiet area for concentration, which can impede their focus.

Potential for isolation: While some individuals may appreciate the variety of moving desks and interacting with new people, others may experience feelings of displacement and detachment, resulting in a weakened sense of stability or belonging.