Pros and Cons of Joining a Coworking Space Instead of Working from Home (WFH)

The professional world has slowly moved to a more remote work culture, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, co-working spaces have also sprouted up to provide comfort to those who prefer to work in a professional space away from the noise and multiple distractions at home. While the work-from-home (WFH) setup does sound alluring to many, joining a co-working space has its own set of pros and cons. Here we look at some of the top advantages and disadvantages of joining a co-working space that are worth consideration before you rule it out over the WFH culture.

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6 Pros of Joining a Coworking Space

1. Work-Life Demarcation
2. Boost in Productivity
3. Flexible Membership
4. Access to Essential Amenities
5. Opportunity to Network
6. Professional Work Environment

1. Work-Life Demarcation

Working at home may sound too comfortable; however, it cannot be denied that it makes it difficult for the employee to clearly distinguish between home and work life. The boundary keeps blurring and at one time may even disappear. On the other hand, joining a co-working space allows you to demarcate your professional and personal space, thereby improving your work-life balance.

2. Boost in Productivity

Working at a coworking office which has a more professional and structured environment than that of a home helps boost employee productivity. This, coupled with the absence of noise and other distractions, makes members more productive in their working hours.

3. Flexible Membership

The best part about working in a co-working space is that you can choose to pay for as much time as you use the office space. These shared office spaces offer professionals flexible membership plans, ranging between hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly limits. You will only be charged for as long as you wish to use the coworking space for.

4. Access to Essential Amenities

Working in a co-working space may also be better since you have easy access to a host of work-essential amenities, which may sometimes be difficult to find when working from home. These include the availability of exclusive meeting rooms for calls/meetings, access to a printer, copier, scanner, and fax machine, as well as high-speed internet connectivity. Besides this, the availability of complimentary tea/coffee and snacks at the workplace always allures workers.

5. Opportunity to Network

The work-from-home culture has increased incidences of isolation and loneliness among employees. This is where co-working spaces come as a perfect substitute, bringing together professionals and giving them ample opportunities to interact and network with one another over events, seminars, workshops, and other social gatherings. Besides, professionals also get a chance to form potential business partnerships and alliances with like-minded businesses, which may not always be possible working from home.

6. Professional Work Environment

One of the major benefits of joining a co-working space is that you would get to work in a professional environment which can help boost focus and productivity. This can sometimes be difficult to achieve in a home environment with multiple distractions.

7 Cons of Joining a Coworking Space

1. Restricted Scope for Personalisation
2. Constraints on Working Hours
3. Need to Commute
4. Lack of Privacy
5. Overcrowding
6. Distraction
7. Need to Incur Expenses

1. Restricted Scope for Personalisation

You may not be able to personalise your workstation to your liking the same way you may be able to do in a conventional office space or your work desk at home. Shared office spaces may not be able to allow this freedom to all coworkers.

2. Constraints on Working Hours

Most co-working spaces offer set working hours which are fixed and standard for all employees. This may sometimes not suit your personal preference for work timings.

3. Need to Commute

This is another disadvantage of joining a co-working space. You would be required to commute to your office, which may sometimes be a long distance, depending on your place of residence.

4. Lack of Privacy

Co-working spaces are generally shared spaces which restricts all privacy for co-workers. There are open-plan layouts which may sometimes be a disadvantage if you need to discuss some confidential or sensitive matter with a co-worker.

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5. Overcrowding

Since co-working spaces accommodate too many people at once, they may sometimes get overcrowded, especially during peak work hours. This may also result in a shortage of available work desks or workspaces for other members.

6. Distraction

Co-working spaces can be distracting at times with the presence of several people on the same work floor, open layouts, and no private desks or rooms. Social interactions, gatherings, and events contribute to this.

7. Need to Incur Expenses

Choosing a co-working space would require you to pay a membership plan as compared to working from home free of cost. Besides the membership, you may also need to incur commutation expenses, parking fees, and the like.

A co-working space comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages that are left for you to consider and decide whether or not they suit your purpose. Do take into account your work style preferences, budget, and the nature of your work when opting for a co-working space or deciding to continue working from home.

The Office Pass (TOP) provides coworking space in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon region with great amenities includes high-speed internet, well-equipped conference and meeting rooms, a warm work environment and regular tea and coffee. These office spaces are perfect for small & medium size companies, startups and entrepreneurs. Contact us at 08999 828282 for more information.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

Question: What type of professionals typically use co-working spaces?

Answer: Co-working spaces are preferred by a wide range of professionals, such as freelancers, small entrepreneurs, remote workers, and startups from various lines of industries.

Question: Can I try out a co-working space before committing to a membership?

Answer: Absolutely! Some co-working spaces offer day passes or trial periods that allow you to try out the experience for a little while before committing to membership for a specified duration.

Question: Do co-working spaces provide internet and other amenities?

Answer: Yes, co-working spaces are often equipped with essential facilities for the comfort of co-workers. These include spacious meeting rooms, high-speed internet, printing, and a fully-stocked kitchen area.

Question: Is joining a co-working space expensive?

Answer: The cost involved in hiring a particular co-working place can vary based on its location, membership plans on offer, and the number and quality of amenities offered. Hiring a co-working place can be costlier than working from home but it may also offer value in terms of networking and better productivity.

Question: What are the advantages of joining a co-working space over working from home?

Answer: Co-working spaces offer a more professional environment, an ideal work-life balance, the opportunity to network with other co-members, access to essential office amenities, flexible lease terms, and better productivity, all of which may be challenges when working from home.

Question: Are there any potential downsides to using a co-working space?

Answer: Yes, some of the possible disadvantages of hiring a co-working space are the cost involved in commuting and buying membership, limited personalisation scope, distractions from overcrowding, noise, and also lack of privacy.

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