Hot Desking Problems and Solutions

Posted Wednesday 8th May 2019

The more you read about hot desking, the greater the chance you’ll come across information about hot desking problems. There can be issues with this way of working, just as there can with any other way of working. But if you know what those problems are, you can head them off at the pass and enjoy a much more positive experience.

Dirty desks and equipment

Sometimes, you’ll get just a desk and chair to use, and you’ll bring your laptop with you. This removes the chance of using an unclean computer, but it doesn’t help with desks or phones.

Fortunately, there’s an easy fix. Pop a small pack of disinfecting wipes in your bag and use one to make sure the desk is clean before you begin. And of course, do the same when you finish, to ensure it’s good for the next user too.

You need to bring everything in with you every day

This is your chance to work more minimally. Yes, you may have your laptop bag with you, but you may not need to fill it with as much as you think. Can you use an online diary or appointments app, so you can get rid of the one you carry around, for example? Most issues of this type have practical solutions.

You never know who you are going to sit next to

This could be a negative or a positive. For example, few of us get on with everyone we work with. Hot desking allows us to avoid those we don’t get along with, and to sit near people we do. We can also get to know people we’ve never had the chance to speak to before.

No one understands how to adopt hot desking practices

This is a common, yet easily avoidable, issue. If you are about to begin hot desking, find out all you can about it in advance. Ask what is required of you, what you can and cannot do, and so on. If you have any questions, ask. This is the best way to make sure you achieve the desired results.

While some people will naturally embrace the idea of hot desking more than others, it’s good to know many common hot desking problems can be avoided altogether. It just takes the right approach from the start to ensure everyone is happy and thrives while hot desking.