There are numerous ways to work flexibly. It can be from home, at a coworking space or even your local coffee shop. Regardless of where you work, it is clear that companies are letting go of the traditional 9 to 5 schedule that has loomed over work culture for decades.
Of all the trends to emerge from this changing culture, coworking has been one of the most notable. Coworking spaces allow professionals to walk in with their laptops for individual work, or collaborate with the people around them. They also typically include amenities such as conference rooms, phone booths, coffee bars and even social events.
While these spaces have been a haven for both freelancers and corporations alike, the fall of major coworking operator WeWork left the rest of the industry working to regain a positive reputation.
Regardless, CBRE’s latest forecasts see the industry growing 13% in 2020, with 87 million square feet of inventory by the end of the year.
In order to retain employees, companies need to look at offering remote working options. Susan Simpkins, director of proposal advancement at Stanford University’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, said that the Palo Alto’s high cost of living and the birth of her first child forced her and her family to relocate. When she informed the university she would be leaving, they found a way for her to work remotely and she remains in her position three years later from coworking space Salt Mine located in Sandy, Utah.