Coworking spaces are often associated with freelancers, consultants, and startups. Recent changes in the landscape of where and how we work have made coworking an attractive alternative to returning to a central office for more remote workers as well.
Many companies, including Verizon, UnSplash, and Automattic—the company behind WordPress—already offered their employees funds for coworking spaces prior to the pandemic. The number of remote workers has grown extensively since then, and even more employers are seeing the benefits of coworking, both for their employees and for their bottom line.
Has working from home got you down? Find your motivation and increase your productivity by joining a coworking space! Schedule a tour of Cohere Coworking today!
Here are five of the most compelling benefits employers gain by paying for their remote employees’ coworking memberships.
Improved Productivity
Many individuals are more productive working from a coworking space than working from either home or a public space like a coffee shop or library. Several factors contribute to the increased productivity a coworking space provides.
Coffee shops rarely have suitable workspaces, and it can be difficult to find an electrical outlet or decent wi-fi signal. Home offices are often invaded by children, pets, spouses, and roommates, creating an unpredictable and distracting environment.
Coworking spaces are designed around work, unlike most homes and cafes. They are likely to have amenities that make working easier. Most offer comfortable workspaces and fast, reliable internet. Many also provide amenities such as free coffee, access to a printer or copy machine, and extra monitors, cords, and dongles to help ensure everything you might need is at your fingertips, improving productivity.
An Expanded Network
Coworking spaces are more than just spaces. Most are vibrant, active communities that interact with one another on a regular basis. Members share their struggles, their successes, and their insight. These interactions provide the opportunity to encounter both new clients as well as new talent.
This expanded network has another benefit as well—improved innovation. People working at coworking spaces are often from vastly different backgrounds. This offers a greater range of information and ideas, and a larger community to bounce ideas off of, inspiring increased innovation and better critical thinking skills.
Reduced Costs
In some cases, employers may even be able to reduce their costs by allowing remote employees access to a coworking space. Having a coworking space to go to may even negate your employees’ need for other employer-covered costs, such as reliable high-speed internet, office furniture, or even commercial real estate.
Increased Professionalism
Although most people spend a lot more time on video calls than we used to, in-person meetings are still valuable and sometimes necessary. Being able to meet a client in a professional setting rather than in a home or public venue gives your employee and your company an air of respectability.
Coworking spaces are often collaborative as well, frequently working with one another. This gives remote workers the chance to meet clients and collaborators in multiple locations, making it easier to connect, even in an unfamiliar city.
Enhanced Job Satisfaction
According to Buffer’s State of Remote Work 2022 report, the most lauded benefit of remote work for employees is still the flexibility to choose where and when they work, while the main struggles associated with remote work are loneliness and the ability to unplug.
Employees working from a coworking space are empowered to choose the environment they want to work in, whether that be a more casual, community-based space like Cohere, or a more executive-type office space. In addition, coworking spaces decrease loneliness by providing workers with a sense of community and help them unplug by creating a clearer boundary between work and home.
Curious about how coworking can work for you? Sign up for a tour of Cohere Coworking today!
As you can see, the benefits of a coworking space extend beyond just a space in which to work. These spaces provide flexibility, accessibility, and community for your employees, making it easier for them to do their job, and do it well. They also provide ample equipment, opportunities for collaboration, and may even improve your company’s bottom line.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Penny Leigh Sebring is a Cohere member, experienced freelance writer, neophyte speculative fiction author, and gatherer of information and imaginary friends.