What Will Co-Working Places Be Like Post Pandemic?

The post-pandemic scene might be the reset button that co-working companies like WeWork, Regus, Industrious, and Impact Hub have been banking on. While the pandemic may have put the world at a halt, companies are now scrambling to adjust to the new normal, with economies slowly opening up again.

With co-working spaces bringing in community energy, these types of commercial spaces may be coming back into the market with more opportunities than when they first emerged. The question now is, are co-working companies ready to take on the new demands and restrictions of the emerging flexible workspace workers? We will be looking at three issues that these kinds of companies may encounter.

Covid Concerns

Covid concerns will bring new routines and safety protocols for co-working places once filled with the hustle and bustle of people coming in and out at different hours of the day.

Co-working places will need to lessen the foot traffic and reconfigure the office spaces to make these workspaces pandemic proof.

Owners need to set up protocols for dealing with issues such as the spread of the virus amongst tenants. It is vital to set up stricter guidelines such as social distancing, better hygiene, and steps to assure responsible health concerns so that tenants feel safe to return to the offices.

Privacy Issues

Issues such as privacy may be one of the few downsides of co-working spaces. With different offices operating under one roof, concerns such as information leaking out or marketing strategies and product announcements prematurely getting out into the public have become drawbacks in the past.

With remote working still an option for some, others need to return to the physical office space. The post-pandemic new occupancy guidelines may be what some companies require. With co-working spaces restricted from renting out their spaces to more people, these allow more privacy and convenience. These are significant advantages for the tenants but the landlords, and it may mean less profit.

Common Areas Changes

In the past, common areas were benefits and even perks that encouraged companies to sign memberships to lure in better candidates. These included hotel-like canteens, gyms, recreational areas, and sometimes even pools. With people sick of staying at home and excited to get back to a glimpse of what used to be normal, these common areas are something to look forward to. There will be changes to these kinds of areas, though; these will include de-densified areas to ensure health precautions are being met, which will mean fewer members inside function rooms and dining areas at the same time to maintain physical distancing. Common areas will have to consider more hospital-like hygiene practices and change office layouts to avoid close interactions.

With companies hesitant to invest in long-term leases, co-working spaces offer more lease flexibilities during these uncertain times. While many are still considering where and if they should set up a physical office, these co-working spaces might be the solution to businesses getting back to as close to normal as possible.

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