Desk sharing and hotdesking
Desk-sharing and hotdesking has been introduced in a number of professional services offices. The term desk-sharing is used to indicate where desks are shared within an area allocated to a specific service. The term hotdesking is used for building-wide offices and desks that any member of staff can use. Desk-sharing protocols and schedules were devised to meet the key principles below and to avoid implementing desk booking systems that are resource-intensive to both use and manage.
Principles
- Create opportunities for colleagues to collaborate regularly within their immediate teams.
- Create opportunities for colleagues to collaborate with others across their wider directorates.
- Everyone should be able to work on campus as much as they want/need to, i.e. there is no requirement to work from home.
Principles were also established for circumstances where colleagues are allocated a desk for their sole use, recognising that a one-size-fits-all approach would not be appropriate:
- A colleague works on campus 5 days per week.
- The operational requirements of a role requires access to specific equipment.
- Following an occupational health assessment, a reasonable adjustment requires sole use of a desk.
Workplace protocols have been developed to provide a blueprint for introducing desk-sharing and are available to download by clicking the button below. Following these protocols helps to ensure consistency in the implementation of desk-sharing.
If you are considering introducing desk-sharing schedules and protocols in your school or service, Facilities Management can provide guidance and support.
Simone Stevens Space Planner, Facilities Management