There is a lot of talk about how technology has made us more and more disconnected. We can still communicate with people over the internet, but it’s not nearly as close or as personal as meeting someone face to face. Not to mention that we don’t feel like we even know the people in our own office — they might all be wearing headphones while they work on their computers, or they might be sitting at different desks every day.
Though hot desking may not fix these problems entirely, it does have plenty of benefits for employees who struggle with social anxiety because it forces them to speak up and introduce themselves.
How does it work?
Hot desking is when a person can use any of the desks on their floor at any time, rather than being assigned to a specific desk. There are also free sitting areas where people can go and sit if they’re not in the mood to work from their desks. It’s these free areas that provide many of the benefits for employees who suffer from social anxiety because they make it so much easier for people to be social with each other. You don’t have to worry about coming across as rude or uncomfortable when introducing yourself to your desk neighbour because you can just walk over and say hello.
The benefits of hot desking extend beyond the office, as it also encourages people to leave their homes more often. If you live in a neighbourhood without a lot of foot traffic, it can be hard to get out and enjoy life. Since everyone can come by and sit at any time, they’re more likely to go outside and interact with other people, which leads to them getting out of the house on a regular basis.
With so many advantages, is it worth the trouble?
There are some drawbacks to hot desks for employees who struggle with social anxiety; there might not be enough desks available for all employees at all times if you want every desk used at all times. In a typical office with a set number of desks and employees, they can be allocated in advance, and no one has to deal with the frustration of trying to find an open desk.
Also, there might be some confusion when it comes to communication. If you’re sitting at your proper desk one day but have a day off the next, you might not have access to your voicemail or email. You can still figure out the situation by using another phone in the office, but it can lead to a lot of confusion if people assume that you’re at your desk when you’re actually not.
Hot desking also makes it easier for people to take advantage of other people’s information. If you’re working at a desk, you can use it to do work until someone comes over and asks if they can use it — even though they might only be using your desk for 20 minutes. When you’re hot-desking, that doesn’t happen because anyone who wants to use your desk can grab it.