So What Is Hot Desking?

Hot Desking has been around since 1990s, that’s about 30 years. The term Hot Desking is derived from a Navy term, “Hot Racking.”

“Hot Racking” is a Navy term for the sleeping arrangement while on a ship or submarine. The sleeping arrangement is that of one person per a rack at a time. Hot meaning bad, rack meaning your bed. Sleeping arrangements like this on a ship or submarines requires less berthing space. Hot Racking is a very efficient sleeping arrangement.

Hot Desking is also called hoteling, referring to seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Well, we’re not in the Navy, and we’re not in a hotel, so what is Hot Desking? Hot Desking is an office organized system which involves one large desk, something like a conference room or board room table. Multiple workers use this one physical work station or desk in different ways during their working shift.

It Encourages Team Members to Interact With Each Other

Because there is no dividers on this desk, and because this is an open concept, Hot Desks seating arrangement encourages the team members and staff members to talk freely to one another, whereas before they wouldn’t normally do so. The workers are free to collaborate with each other, talk about different projects, and to move about the office more comfortably.

Unnecessary real estate is one of the biggest office cost. The best way to cut cost, is to let go of the unnecessary waste. Having a Hot Desks is the answer. With the elimination of unnecessary waste of excess space, the office becomes more alive. The workers are interacting with each other, and getting their jobs completed on time or before time.

Its Flexible Among Workers

Hot Desks office setting arrangements such as this has it’s ups and downs. The most noticeable perk is the flexibility among the workers, and the worker’s behavior that allows projects to get completed either ahead of time or ontime.

Hot Desking is popular among younger workers The younger generation is more adaptable to their new working conditions. Whereas, the older generation is not happy at all. They are not stable, and they are not pleased with having to move around all the time, or the fact that they have to carrying their laptop and other office equipment to everywhere they sit at the table.

There are a few questions that has to be asked and answered when you are considering an office environment such as this:

• What are the demographics of your company?
• Are you thinking about moving hot desk into your company’s environment?
• Do you have excess real estate in your building?
• How many full-time and part-time employees do you have?
• Will there be personal computers and hook-ups on the desk, or will there be laptops available?
• Since this desk is not traditional, how will the phone calls be handled?
• And, where’s the privacy?

There’s a Clean-as-You-Go Policy

Having a large number of people in one room can be like a swarm of germs. To stop the spread of bacteria, everyone should use the hand sanitizer and are to use the antibacterial wipes at all times. Most of all, keep your area clean and neat. Always think of your co-workers. Each worker is to wipe down their desks and computer surfaces before they leave.

Here’s Why You Should Consider Hot Desking

A study was performed that showed that with the use of the Hot Desks there was a 20% increase in performance when employees were given the opportunity to interact with one another. In other words, this was a positive experience. The employees felt empowered to do their work.

Even though there are questions? Eventually the ideas of a Hot Desks will be in the forefront and these challenges can be resolved through creativity and resourcefulness.