By Abdi Ali
Published October 10, 2019
Though studies show that many workers around the world are making the leap from commuting, the 9 to 5 working day and the traditional office space to something more flexible, some businesses have reservations about this trend.
In this article, Regus, a pioneer in flexible workspace that opens its 10th business centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in November 2019, not only defines what flexible workspace is but also addresses some of the concerns raised by skeptics.
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“Finding tangible ways to introduce a flexible working culture into your business is a step in the right direction towards a better work-life balance for you and your team. But flexible working can get tarnished with the same ‘unrealistic’ brush as the hype bandits, which often puts business leaders off the idea,” Regus, a brand of International Workspace Group (IWG), says in a statement. “Flexible working is about taking a more intuitive approach to our working lives. It encompasses remote working, the option of flexible hours or part-time roles, and/or renting flexible office space (flexspace) – which offers a more bespoke way of leasing workspace, compared to the ‘one-size-fits-all’ conventional office space. A business may opt for one or all of these elements.”
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Quoting an IWG survey that it says shows that ‘50% of global employees now work outside of their main offices for at least 2.5 days per week’ and that ‘an increasing number of companies around the world are introducing flexible working policies into their operations’, Regus says the first reason that is discouraging businesses from adopting a more flexible working culture is the fear that it will have negative effect on productivity.
However, Regus says, this appears to be unfounded fear as ‘flexible work arrangements help reduce fatigue and pressure among employees which in turn reduces absenteeism which has a positive impact on productivity’. Indeed, a 2019 Global Workspace survey by IWG shows that ‘85% of respondents confirmed that productivity increased as a result of greater flexibility.’
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The second reason Regus pinpoints for many business leaders turning away from flexible working is to do with infrastructure: What if the remote server isn’t secure enough to prevent company data from being hacked? What if moving into a flexspace proves too noisy and distracting for the team? Will the facilities of the same professional standard as the status quo?
“In terms of cybersecurity, the help of an IT specialist will minimise the risk of a hacking incident. And flexspace brands like Regus offer private interview rooms and exclusive office space to guarantee privacy and quiet time – as well as the benefits of a staffed reception, and cleaning and maintenance taken care of,” Regus says. “Plus, when a change of scene is desired, the social spaces are still there. Either way, the leading flexspace brands typically offer more design-centric, newer, and more inspiring office spaces than their conventional office counterparts.”
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Thirdly, businesses may be opposed to flexspace over the fear it will cost more money.
Regus contends that “the flexspace model is built around efficiency, using no more time, space, resources or money than you need to run your business. Scale up or down as demand dictates and enjoy the luxury of a shorter lease over the traditional 10-year contract. With a range of packages to choose from, businesses can select what makes the most sense for them and adjust accordingly as their company’s situation changes.”
