As remote work has mushroomed during the pandemic, attention has focused on how fit the homes of workers are for home working, what impact it may have on town centers, and even on the house prices in suburbs and other places popular with remote workers.
New research from the Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London and Goldsmiths, University of London shows how remote workers value “third spaces”, such as cafes, bars, and even pubs, that they can work remotely in.
As such, the researchers argue that such potential third places should do more to cater to this active market, such as by providing more reliable WiFi, furniture suitable for working, and a ready supply of plug sockets.
Flexible working
The authors highlight how around a quarter of the UK workforce is now regarded as flexible working, due in large part to the Covid pandemic. As such, they believe that this will fuel the number of so-called “customer-workers” who perform work-related tasks in public spaces that were not originally designed for work.
The researchers visited 36 places, ranging from train stations and churches to cafes and libraries to speak to both patrons and employees. The analysis revealed that these places often encourage higher productivity levels than working from home, while also fulfilling a societal role in reducing isolation and boosting socialization.
These venues could make relatively minor changes to make an even bigger impact. For instance, the paper recommends that they avoid arbitrary rules, such as no laptops between certain times. They can also deliberately place plugs and booths in areas that are normally quiet. Lastly, these facilities can try and replicate the feel of a home by using things like special daily offers and providing food and coffee.
Capitalizing on the trend
Indeed, given the challenges faced by the hospitality sector during Covid, the authors argue that by rethinking their approach slightly, businesses can capitalize on what is likely to be a growing trend for alternative workspaces.
“Customer-workers can be enormously valuable for third places if managed successfully. This study shows that people do have fatigue from working at home but enjoy the social aspects flexible working can offer,” the researchers say.
“In the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan City, workers are able to find the identity that they have been unable to find in an emptier work office or uninspiring home workspace. Practitioners and customer-workers can both benefit from the creation of these spaces, but now is the time for owners to act if they want to catch these new customers.”
