The coronavirus pandemic is expected to have a massive impact on the coworking industry as many of these workspaces have had to shut down facilities for the time being. While some operators may not make it out of this health crisis, others that do will have to make significant changes to their every day operations.
For one, companies that use flexible workspaces will be looking to renegotiate their agreements to ensure their leases are adaptable to emergency situations.
In order to retain members after lockdowns, operators will likely offer deals such as rental waivers in exchange for extending contracts to ensure their occupancy does not take a massive tumble.
These spaces will also put sanitation and hygiene measures at the top of their priorities. This will include regular cleaning of frequently used areas and touchpoints, such as doorknobs and elevator buttons. Some may even adopt thermometers to measure the temperature of each occupant that walks in.
Although the coworking sector is surely struggling during this time, traditional offices with long-term leases will take a major hit post-pandemic. This will lead even more corporations to reevaluate renewing long-term contracts and opting for more flexible leases.
Virtual offices will also play a vital role in the new normal as this arrangement allows companies to get typical administrative services remotely, such as mail handling and receptionists.
Although flexible offices will struggle as lockdowns continue, it will be short-term and those who survive are bound to have a promising future.
