Coworking: what if you started?

Coworking : instructions for use

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Definition of coworking

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Coworking is a shared work space and shared work space for a wide range of people:

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• Independent professionals (freelancers, auto-entrepreneurs...);
• employees of companies ;
• associations ;
• NGOs;
• students...

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How does a coworking space work?

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Coworking spaces coworking spaces offer a variety of services to best meet the needs of workers. The latter choose their place of work according to their means but also to their needs.

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Coworking space offers are presented as follows:

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• Thesubscription, whose price depends on the place or the rhythm of frequentation (by the day, by the hour, or even by the month or by the year) or the fixed price (without commitment) offer a real flexibility. However, this option forces the coworker to frequent the same workplace or the same chain.
• The price of the subscription or package can be paid by the company through theallocation of credits. In particular, there are office tickets (the cousin of the meal ticket) which allow employees to reserve a place among thousands of coworking spaces from a single interface , without any advance payment.

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The importance of mobility at the heart of coworking

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Coworking spaces can be found throughout France and abroad. With more than 2,500 shared workplaces around the world, professionals can be mobile in their missions, and on an international scale.

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Coworking: advantages and disadvantages

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The 4 advantages of coworking

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1. Networking and socialization

Shared workspaces help fight isolation. Employees meet with other coworkers, which allows them to :

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• meet new people and create a professional network;
• share their expertise;
• discover new professional practices;
• opening up to new sectors.

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2. Flexibility in renting the premises

Unlike the classic 3 6 9 commercial lease, coworking allows :

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• have several spaces that meet the specific needs of employees;
• offer true flexibility with the addition of a shared space that is located elsewhere (but remains complementary to the company's offices);
• remain agile over time, as the lease term is more flexible;
• Save money and time with centralized facility management.

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3. Work area and specific equipment

All coworking spaces offer rooms for the specific needs of the users and thus meet the challenges of activity-based working, with :

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• closed spaces for those who need a quieter work environment;
• creative spaces and adequate material, to create a brainstorming session for example.

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Contrary to the "home equipment" not always adapted to home office, these workspaces offer a complete and optimal installation for the workers. Employees have a double screen, ergonomic office chairs, state-of-the-art tools to make a video conference... In short. When it comes to equipment, coworking spaces generally check all the boxes.

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4. Productivity and motivation

Generation Z has a strong need to exchange and share: 78% of coworkers under 30 years old say that going to a shared workspace helps them feel good. Moreover, it has been proven that changing the workplace at least once a week has a positive effect on the mental state and motivation of employees.

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Offering flexible hours and a workplace close to home also allows employees to better adapt their schedule between work and personal life. These elements improve well-being and productivity !

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The 3 disadvantages of open and shared workspaces

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1. Privacy and computer security

Since offices are open to everyone, with a common network and often in open space, it can be more difficult to protect sensitive and confidential information.

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The solution: to face this problem, it is necessary to raise the awareness of the employees and to set up the good practices of cybersecurity: double authentication, multi-factor authentication (MFA), screen lock...

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2. Source of distraction

Noise pollution can be a distraction for employees who need to concentrate. The back and forth of other workers, for example, can distract and slow productivity.

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The solution: a coworking space is not chosen at random. It is important to select a location that corresponds to theuse of your teams and their daily professional needs.

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3. Movements

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This means that employees who work remotely from home have to travel to their new workplace every day, which can be perceived as a waste of time.

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The solution: offer flexibility to employees and let them work from home. And to motivate them to move, offer them a coworking place close to their home with a real added value and in which they will feel good.

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It is not the size of the company that should be taken into account when choosing a coworking space, but the use of its employees. Coworking appears as an obvious solution to meet the needs of activity-based working. If it is an excellent alternative to telecommuting, it does not replace it: it is all about flexibility!