If the line between effective desk-sharing at work and workplace disruptions is so thin, why risk it? Simple. The advantages of a successful desk-sharing arrangement outweigh the disadvantages.
Benefits
- Saves space and reduces costs for the organisation
- Creates new opportunities for collaboration between colleagues
- Increases company and employee flexibility
- Supports a flexible workforce (remote, part-time, freelance)
- Promotes a social working environment
- Encourages employees to be tidier and cleaner
- Levels the playing field in an office and create equality
Disadvantages
- Lack of a personal, private space for employees
- Leads to more disruptions of work
- Creates challenges for IT and supporting infrastructure
- Employees take longer to settle and get to work
- Promotes the formation of territories
If they are well managed, the disadvantages are easy to minimise or eliminate altogether. There is a huge incentive to make shared office arrangements work.