According to Harvard Business Review’s Workplace Trends for 2023, nearly 60% of the organisations surveyed are investing heavily in improving their employee workplace experience.
To craft a truly exceptional workplace experience, it’s useful to know what people are actually looking for in an office environment – which, of course, can change over time. So, we decided to do a little digging.
Here are the three workplace experience drivers that stood out for us.
Tiffani Bova, author and global growth evangelist at Salesforce, penned an article for Harvard Business Review in which they listed five factors that make for a great employee experience. The fifth factor on their list resonates from a coworking space perspective: seamless technology to reduce employees’ day-to-day friction.
Bova explains how ‘...technology is not an end in itself but a tool for increasing productivity and reducing effort. And yet our research shows that technology is one of the most poorly rated dimensions of employee experience: fewer than one in three employees said their company’s technology works effectively, and fewer than one in four said they’re equipped with seamless technology.’
The majority of organisations work hard to make user journeys streamlined and navigable for customers, but their own internal processes can fall short – especially if these processes and systems aren’t integrated.
Bova argues that, when it comes to technology, organisations should give the customer experience and employee experience equal weight. After all, ‘saving customer time nets out little or no gain if you’re shifting that effort to your employees.’
Where does coworking fit in?
While coworking operators can’t change their members’ internal processes – (where would they even find the time?!) – they can set a good example by prioritising the digitisation and integration of operational workplace processes.
Exploring the potential of your coworking software is a good place to start.
From managing multiple meeting room bookings and facilitating different levels of access control, to enabling digital signatures on contracts, software integrations make the workplace experience frictionless for members and employees alike.
Are there functionalities in Nexudus you’re not familiar with?
Let’s imagine you’re predominantly a private office provider, but have recently allocated some of your floor space to coworking. Lots of people are hot desking nowadays, and FloorPlans can provide your members with a bird’s-eye view of desk availability (and the ability to book quickly and easily).
If you’re a Nexudus customer and would like to brush up on your skills, Nexudus Academy is a good place to start. We run self-led and coaching options – just head to your admin panel and follow the link to ‘Nexudus Academy’ to explore and enrol.
It will come as no surprise to hear that employees are increasingly seeking personal value and purpose at work.
In a 2023 Gartner article on the topic, research director Caitlin Duffy informs us that ‘while 82% of employees say it’s important for their organisation to see them as a person, not just an employee, only 45% of employees believe their organisation actually sees them this way.’
In a context that is economically and politically volatile, people are questioning whether their workplace aligns with their own personal values, and whether or not their employers value them as a person. Many employees are re-evaluating their choices around how they spend their time in the office as well as outside of it.
1. Deeper connections – Feeling understood through family and community connections, not just work relationships.
2. Radical flexibility – Feeling autonomous in all aspects of work, not just when and where it gets done.
3. Personal growth – Feeling valued through growth as a person, not just as a professional.
4. Holistic well-being – Feeling cared for by ensuring holistic well-being offerings are used, not just available.
5. Shared purposeFeeling invested in the organisation by taking concrete action on purpose, not just through corporate statements.
Although it’s an organisations’ responsibility to ensure that its employees are treated fairly – and recognised and compensated for their work – coworking can support organisations in fostering a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.
Coworking operators are certainly well-placed to support points 1, 3, 4 and 5 in “The Human Deal”. Firstly, coworking spaces often unite people from different industries and backgrounds, providing opportunities for collaboration and community building.
Working in the same building as people who are passionate about the same causes or have the same values can be incredibly motivating, and encountering those with different interests can be educational and enriching too.
This sense of community building can be particularly important for those who would otherwise be working in isolation from home.
Of course, coworking can enable community members to ‘feel valued through growth as a person, not just a professional.’ The access to skills workshops, leisure activities and learning opportunities that coworking spaces offer can be empowering.
Because these opportunities happen both within the workplace, but outside of the employer’s organisation, there’s the added benefit of networking opportunities too.
Our preoccupation with purpose and value can often mean that fun falls by the wayside (that said, one is often the result of the other). But it’s important to actively look for ways to include and promote fun in the workplace.
According to research from Great Place To Work®, who produced this year’s Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials™ list, ‘fun’ is the thing that drives wellbeing for all generations, not just millennials. The research found that ‘employees who experience fun at work are 190% to 220% more likely to have high well-being levels.’
Fortune Best Workplaces for Millenials List
Where does coworking fit in?
You don’t need us to tell you how fun coworking is. But if your calendar is looking a little empty and you need some inspiration, it can help to see what others are doing.
US-based coworking operator NuvoDesk shares its fun events in a monthly newsletter. National Beer Day is one such event – members gather in the kitchen to relax and chat with a drink. The members themselves also run post-work networking events, and these are included in the monthly newsletter.
Games nights are also fun – for those of us who are on the competitive side. The Bulgaria-based coworking space WorkNomads hosted a board game night this year, as did the UK-based workspace Dragon – complete with nibbles.
Of course, not everyone’s idea of fun is the same, which is why it's important for coworking spaces to offer variety. Make sure there are alcohol-free options and cater for different dietary needs. Fun needn’t be raucous either.
A couple of fun-yet-relaxing events we found were Oru Space’s Pottery & Pilates Workshop, and Selina Margate & Cowork’s Astrological Alchemy Workshop!
As coworking operators and experts, we’re leading the way in the realm of workplace experience. This is one of the main reasons why we’re proving so popular with organisations who care about staff retention.
Learn how we can help coworking operators and office space managers bring more to their workspaces with powerful, easy-to-integrate and fully customisable digital tools.
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As demand for coworking continues to grow, niche coworking spaces stand out. Catering to the specific needs of distinct professional communities, these specialised workspaces go beyond just offering a desk and Wi-Fi. In fact, they provide tailored environments, resources, and networks enabling professionals to thrive in their respective fields. This article explores the opportunities these niche coworking spaces offer in various industries in 2025.
Flex space industry growth has undeniably been accelerated by a major shift towards more flexible work models. Last year, 45% of office workers were hybrid, splitting their time between home, the office, and third places, reports Ipsos Karian & Box. Times are changing, bringing new expectations around the purpose of the office. At GCUC UK London, the panel discussion: “Evolving Occupier Needs in the Flex Space Market,” offered valuable insights into the transforming expectations of flex space occupiers. This article shares some of their conversations while exploring this topic further.
The rise of hybrid working brings an exciting lifestyle opportunity for adventure seekers. Indeed, digital nomadism – combining remote work with travel, where nomads don’t have a permanent residence – is so popular right now
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How to transform your coworking space into a haven for freelancers is a matter of understanding the needs of this diverse group of professionals. However, as you start to delve deeper into this process, you'll realise that it's impossible to cater to all the needs of this diverse group, although you probably shouldn't try, given that neither your budget nor the space you have at your disposal is infinite.
The rise of hybrid working is having a profound effect on coworking spaces, with traditional office leases no longer the norm for organisations looking for space. Corporates and startups alike are attracted by their balance of professionalism and community, home comforts and top level business facilities. Everyone who works in or adjacent to the coworking industry knows that it’s always evolving. So, as we head towards the end of another action packed year, let’s take a look at some of the key coworking trends in store for 2025.