Which Is the Best Workspace for Remote Work in 2024: Home Office or Coworking Space?

While some might assume that remote workers just want to work from their couches in pyjamas, this isn’t the case for most workers. In fact, over a decade ago, coworking spaces became popular among freelancers for two main reasons: the desire for social interaction and a need to balance home and work life. The same factors that made coworking appealing to freelancers back then are now drawing in remote workers today.

The biggest enemy of working in the office is commuting. There is a direct correlation between job satisfaction and the time it takes to get to your workplace and the mode of transport you use as several studies have shown, including one by the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) in which researchers examined the impacts of travelling to work on the wellbeing of more than 26,000 employees in England over five years or Understanding Society a study that surveys 40,000 households per year - to examine how changes in subjective well being were related to changing commuting circumstances.

The results are little more than an explosive cocktail: on the one hand, we have the almost universal worldwide fact that the acceptable commute is usually between 20 and 30 minutes with the fact that the average time it takes to get to work has been rising steadily: ‘The average daily commute in England has risen from 48 minutes to 60 minutes over the past 20 years.’ and that one in seven commuters spend at least two hours per day travelling to and from work. In the United States, the average commute is 50 minutes.

One of the studies goes so far as to quantify the impact of a 20-minute increase in daily commute is equivalent to a 19% decrease in job satisfaction. However, there are some points to bear in mind.

• The impact of commute time extension is often underestimated when it comes to accepting a new job.
• Walking to the office or cycling to the office does not negatively impact job satisfaction even if the same commute time is spent in other modes of transport.
• A longer commute may not negatively impact worker satisfaction if this is because people take on longer commutes for good reasons relating to improving their employment, housing and family situations and these factors serve to increase life satisfaction.

These studies were also carried out before the lockdowns which showed that the technical means exist to work from home which combined with one of the findings of these studies makes it increasingly difficult to sustain high job satisfaction with a job that requires you to commute too much ‘The acceptance that a long commute is a price to pay may only persist if it is considered unavoidable and a social norm.’

So, what does all that mean? More than half of office employees across the UK feel that their working spaces are uninspiring but some, such as the Barclays' Glasgow campus, are redefining the workspace and writing new rules by integrating a holistic design into their workplace. Not everyone is employed within £330-million-building offices, though, so many have flocked to coworking spaces like Collabor8te, a Glasgow coworking space in the name and, by its very nature, one buzzing with collaboration.

Breaking Free from Isolation and Loneliness

Home offices offer privacy and solitude but lack the human interaction that comes naturally to traditional workplaces. What space is a reasonable distance from home and allows you to break free from this isolation? Coworking is a clear option for many remote workers because it allows them to socialise with other people and take breaks to recharge their batteries during the working day without having to deal with endless commuting.

As a coworking space operator, you can create a vibrant and social environment where remote workers can connect with others. These spaces are often full of like-minded people, from freelancers and entrepreneurs to other remote employees. Most are looking for a place where there is a sense of community, but remember that every community, region, and country is different and this manifests itself at different levels and in different ways.

Informal conversations, shared experiences and networking opportunities I believe work almost everywhere and help the vast majority of our potential members.

Work-life balance, boundary setting & enhanced productivity and focus

A short commute of about 20 minutes is a good way for many to make the switch between work and personal life. When working from home, the line between work and personal life is somewhat blurred.

Having a home office brings with it some distractions. For some, it will be the chores around the house, for others it will be the pets or the temptation that the TV or the newly released video game can offer in a pause. Some people are indeed 100% immune to this, for others, it is a thorn in their side.

A coworking space is for many remote workers a way to create a healthy routine by establishing a clear separation between the two. Additionally, the simple fact of being surrounded by other people working creates a feeling of responsibility and focus.

As a coworking space operator, you should design your coworking space to encourage productivity. Provide a professional environment that allows you to concentrate, and have private conversations, but at the same time relax and develop the social interaction that these professionals have come to seek. Always be aware of, and in control of, the impact of ambient noise in work areas, or offer concentration work areas.

It is also important to understand that not all remote workers are looking for the same thing. On the one hand, you will have those who are part-time and on the other hand, those who are full-time: for some the comfort offered by an ergonomic chair will be paramount while for others they are simply looking to break the isolation they have at home and are looking to socialise for a few hours a few days a week. At the level of rates and access, you must also make certain differences or your value proposition will not fit their specific needs.

Space should be an upgrade, not a downgrade.

Working from home, once the novelty wears off, becomes monotonous and tedious for many. However, especially for a remote worker whose company does not pay for coworking space, coworking is an easily quantifiable expense whereas working at home is perceived as free.

Leaving your home to go to work in a space that does not inspire you or is not comfortable will only be done if you have no choice. As mentioned in the previous section, take into account the specific needs of remote workers on a general and specific level.

For all of them, it is important to have a first-class internet connection and private spaces available for private calls, presentations, etc. For some, those in full remote, it will also be important to have a comfortable chair that allows them to work comfortably throughout the day or a table with sufficient dimensions to create a setup that allows them to be productive. Common spaces are a must for everyone as they are essential to generate social interaction and relaxation during the day.

As a coworking space operator you must maintain this balance between profitability and quality of service. Understanding which spaces are essential to sell other services is paramount to being profitable.

Many operators sometimes find it difficult to assess the impact that space has on the prices they can charge or the profiles they can attract. Let me give you an example from another service industry such as restaurants: Can two restaurants with the same food, but different space and service, attract different types of customers and generate two different types of profit? It is clear to me that the answer is an overwhelming yes.

Incorporating art pieces, interesting designs, working well with the acoustics of the space, plants, colour, well-designed ceilings, etc. are strategies that tend to produce interesting results when trying to create an attractive atmosphere.

Technology & infrastructure

Sometimes we take things for granted but we should not. In some regions for a remote worker a power generator or an internet connection via satellite can be a key factor in the decision whether or not to go to a coworking space. Also, unfortunately in war zones we have seen how bomb shelter has become the most desired perk for members.

As a coworking space operator, you must create adequate infrastructure and remember that members must be informed of any incident that may affect their work: for them you are their only stakeholder and this is part of the value that has made them decide for a coworking space.

Inspiration, networking opportunities and professional growth

For a remote worker who is looking for a lot of social interaction, has recently moved and has no connections in the area, or is always trying to learn new things or looking for new career opportunities, a varied social and professional agenda will be a plus.

Creating a comfortable and inviting space is only part of the equation. One of the values that coworking has made its leitmotif is ‘to be more than just a place to work’. In a bit of self-criticism, we should recognise that there has been some hype about this. The reality is that many spaces offer virtually no social activity, although I would venture to say that in many cases it is because the members themselves have stopped coming to them and/or they are not attracting new members and the agenda has not been redesigned to make it attractive again.

As a coworking space operator, we can be faithful to tradition and see coworking spaces as more than just workplaces. If we believe they are centres of networking, collaboration and professional development and schedule events and activities that reflect this interest we will attract this type of remote worker. However, we may scare away those who are looking for a quieter environment and more organic relationships. Additionally, I think we need to think about the image that the space may give to the outside world because if the choice of space is approved by the company, it may generate some suspicion that the space may appear to be a constant party, or that the worker may find another job when coming to the coworking space.

Flexibility and Cost Efficiency

I have previously tiptoed around the issue of fees, but let's look at this in a little more detail.

A remote worker is unlikely to rent a traditional office because of the costs and long-term commitment involved, and setting up a home office means for most mortals (those who don't have a lot of free space at home) giving up many of the amenities of a traditional office and obviously the social side.

For a remote worker looking to ‘settle permanently in your space’, one of your standard dedicated desk memberships will do the trick, but for those who come in sporadically, you need to have rates ranging from a day pass to pay-as-you-go that will appeal to those more cost-sensitive remote workers with more limited space needs. These rates make them feel that they are only paying for the space and services they use while offering total flexibility.

As a coworking space operator, you can create different price ranges that offer this flexibility. In some cases to maintain an attractive base entry price you can make some of these simply give access to common areas such as the lounge of the space so that you monetise this space by generating income during working hours from areas that you must make available to make the space attractive to members in other memberships that make more intensive use of the space as discussed above.

Conclusion

Working from home, for most people, is not sustainable over an excessively long period of time: in fact, this fact led to the birth and expansion of coworking in the first place. For remote workers who do not wish to be immersed in an eternal commute, a coworking space conveniently located close to home is the perfect solution: it combines ease of access as well as social interaction to the extent that this person needs.

As managers, we must create a coworking space that offers these professionals everything from the traditional dedicated desk or, in some cases (or cultures), a small office if they require extra privacy, to pay-per-use services for those who are just looking for an occasional escape from the loneliness of home or to work from an inspiring environment for those who can work remotely a few days a week.

This trend is here to stay. Although many industries are seeing an increase in the number of people working on-site, many other factors such as the internationalisation of work mean that remote workers are not likely to cease to be an increasingly frequent audience for coworking spaces that create an environment and a space that is conducive to them. As the world of work continues to evolve, coworking spaces will evolve with it, adapting to take advantage of the opportunities it offers. Flexibility and speed of reaction are in the very DNA of coworking as is offering a tailor-made solution to every need.