Hotdesking

[theeternalstudent]

I've been offered my dream job. It's been a long time in the planning. However, I've only just found out that the company operate a hot desk policy. Think large open plan department and free for all on computers/desks. Turns out that there just isn't enough desks or equipment for everyone. So much so that they have had to implement a compulsory 'work at home' day for everyone. Work at home doesn't really work for me and my personal circumstances. TBH it just sounds like hell to me. Doesn't everyone like to have their own desk where they can set out their stuff and make themselves comfortable?

Do I have to accept that this is the way of office working in the future? or should I just turn down the job.

I sound like I'm a bit full of myself saying that I won't do it as I need a desk. So does everyone!

I love hotdesking and was relieved when it was introduced. It's nice to move around the office and sit with different people. The only thing that spoils it is the passive aggressiveness of some people who seem to think that they should be exempt.

I wouldn't take the job unless you are going to embrace it because can get very obvious and uncomfortable for everyone around you. Saying that it will limit your choices as more and more companies have realised that it is a great way of saving money. Most people I know love the opportunity to work from home - no commute, ability to multitask (laundry etc). Definitely makes up for a slightly larger gas bill each month.

It basically suits some people who like change. I now work as a nurse so have to share stuff with twelve other staff, it doesn't bother me as my desk work only takes about 3o minutes a say.

My office has a hot-desking policy but has "villages" so in theory people int the same department can sit together or very close together. People have lockers for their personal stuff.

My problem is that I am home-based but expected to be in the office one day a week. I can't get in really early due to childcare constraints so get in around 9.30 after most desks have been taken. Despite asking several times, homeworkers cannot book desks near their teams. I don't see the point of my being in if I can't sit with my team. Yes I can make friends with people in other teams, but ultimately I would like to be near my immediate team. I can ask colleagues to informally reserve a desk for me, but I don't always remember. If I have to be in the office and pay the extortionate train fare, I expect to have a desk with my colleagues.

Hot-desking is a pain in the proverbial.

I would find it difficult to adjust because I'm used to keeping my work shoes under my desk, and on my desk a box of tissues, hand-cream, pens, any ongoing work.

But I would be happy to take on the challenge of adjusting to not being surrounded by my clutter.

The thing that really bothers me about the idea of hot-desking is the cleanliness of the desks. Given the state of communal kitchens and loos in some workplaces, the thought of sharing a desk with the types of people who leave piss on the toilet seat, don't wash their hands after going to the loo, eat messy food at their desk, don't cover their mouth/nose when they sneeze is just grim grim grim!

I'm doing the opposite thing Op, I've started a new job and after 8 years of hot desking, I now have my own desk again....it's weird! It feels gratuitously big and I don't know what to put in all the drawers, am so used to a clear desk policy it feels a bit over crowded having all this stuff on my desks. I miss moving round the room chatting to different people every day, but I do like knowing that there will be space for me every day. So pros and cons really.

We hot desk even though after layoffs there are easily enough desks for everyone to have their own. I reckon we all waste a good 15 minutes each morning readjusting desks, tracking down and adjusting chairs, retrieving stuff from our drawers etc. I'm a tidy desk person but it's so fucking pointless.

We have just started hot desking and much to my surprise I love it.

We do not have drawers or bins and we have a clear desk policy. We each have a locker.

Same as nulgirl stated - the ones that think they are exempt and "making a stand" make my blood boil. What I love is management who deliberately hot desk into these seats just because they can.

We put up with loads of grumbling when the idea was introduced but you would be amazed at how quickly you adapt. And I have the messiest desk in the world when I am at work. And I just shove it all in my locker a the end of the day.

I'm now a SAHM but there is NO way I could hot desk. I lived surrounded by paperwork.

But my DH works in computers - he has a laptop, one pad of paper and one pen. And that's it. My mind boggles at how he can work like that, but he does. He loves being "paperless" and he is very efficient at his job.

He also spends a significant amount of time working from home - it is brilliant saving commuting costs, and he spends so much more time at home with our DS.

I haven't had a desk in an office for 8 years, I don't have an office base. I am doing fine. Hit my annual sales target this week, year end is 31st march. House untidy and about to invest in cabinet for work shite.

Some of my colleagues have got "outside offices". (Shed with extension cables).

I put up with hotdesking because I can wfh. I love wfh, I developed mobility problems and it's meant I can stay in work. I loved it before then to be fair. It takes discipline at first but I know I get loads more done than a lot of my office based colleagues. Wfh is so much more flexible with dc.

Nesters are a massive pita in our office. If it's spare when I get there then I can use it. Our director has a named desk but will sit everywhere.

The only downside is the desk are filthy. You get used to virtual filling; we proof read each other's work. Teleconferencing with access to desktops is the norm and I could be anywhere.

No direct advantage to the employee; we did it to downsize the office space required.
However, indirectly, I have leant s lot and built some great working relationships by siting with different people.

The advantage is that your company saves money and stays in business, rather than shutting down and sacking you...

Sounds like you're heading to my office. We have lockers (but there are not enough) for books etc and book desks month to month so not entirely a free for all but are meant to work from home once a week.

It has been years since I hot desked and I hated it at the time - nowadays I would need a massive locker for all that I have in my desk drawers alone:
Packs of thank you cards (work in fundraising)
Spare dress, cardigan, underwear, tights, shoes.
Deodorant, tampons, hairspray, toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush.
Bleach spray and kitchen roll.
Special mug.
Chocolate.
Emergency cup a soup.
Various items of Paperchase stationary.
Plus much, much more. Am I a nester?!

I love sitting by new people. If someone needs my help, or if things aren't working as well as they could be with a dept, I go and work by them. I'd love my own office, there aren't any, just meeting rooms. All grades have the same desk size, locker and IT.

We have a mix. My department all have permanent desks, because we're in the office pretty much every day. Other departments have hot desks, as most of the people will be out on client sites more than they will be in the office. Plus we frequently have visitors from other offices/countries who need to log in for a few hours while they're here.

The best thing about hotdesking is that it really throws those micromanagers who "don't like" staff working from home.

I worked at a large, international organisation a couple of years ago with a similar arrangement, only ut was called "Smart Working". There were various sections in the office, some open-plan, some "quiet" with no desk phones and some small offices. The idea was that there would only ever be 80% staff presence, so only 80% office facilities were planned.
Everyone did have their own dedicated laptop with smartcard and headphones, so you could basically work anywhere with WI-FI. We also had our own locker at the office to keep desk stuff in.
The advantage was being able to work almost anywhere, the disadvantage was splitting teams up and reducing communication to a certain extent.

My department is spread across Europe, so not being able to sit next to each other on hotdesks isn't such an issue. We use instant messaging, telephones, video conferencing. Admittedly some people are more communicative than others, but then I can say that about the people who sit right next to me, so I think it's more of a personality thing than a distance thing.

The best thing about hotdesking is that it really throws those micromanagers who "don't like" staff working from home

Yes - I worked for a large company that was considering hotdesking. My manager kept telling me that every time I worked from home I made her look bad, yet I knew perfectly well that the company was about to get rid of as many cubicles as possible and start actively encouraging people to work from home. It was going to save them an absolute fortune.

I've never done it. I think I'd get used to it okay except -- don't you mind having to share keyboards and mice? I honestly am not precious about germs, but really wouldn't like that. I loathe antibacterial wipes, and wouldn't want to feel like I had to either wipe everything down or risk getting sick a lot in winter.

OP I think the other thing that would worry me is that they said they're doing it b/c they don't have enough desks: sounds easy enough to have everyone wfh. some days, but could be pretty irritating to work out if people's days in/at home don't line up well.

But if it is your dream job then I would give it a shot. Congratulations!

Our work decided to bring it in just over 5 years ago. It was at the height of the swine flu outbreak and I was in very early pregnancy with dd at the time so I was really stressed out about it.

However, like nearly all brilliant ideas they seem to come up with at work it sort of tailed off without really making any difference whatsoever.

We have a mix of perm and hot desks. Anyone hot desking has a locker to keep their stuff in.

What do you really need? Everything will probably be on your laptop and not printed out 'procedure manuals'.

We have a clean desk policy so nothing can be left out anyway.

i hot desked for years. It's not as good as having your own desk but I wouldn't turn down a job over it!