Hot desking is growing in popularity at rapid pace. But what exactly is it, and is it a good choice for your business? We’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know about hot desks and hot desking, covering the definition, how it works, what the benefits are, and how to choose between hot desking and a office space. Read on to get all the answers to your questions.

What is hot desking?

Hot desking is a workplace organisation system that involves desks, or workstations, being available on an ad hoc basis, rather than being reserved for specific people. It’s the most flexible workplace arrangement, allowing different people to use the same desks at different times. 

The desks that fill a hot desking workplace are, appropriately, called hot desks. They’re mostly similar to workstations in a fixed-desk workplace, but might not have a permanent computer installed. Instead, hot deskers tend to use laptops that allow them to make their work portable.

Coworking spaces, which are shared by different businesses and solo workers, generally contain lots of hot desks to facilitate flexibility. But you can also implement hot desks in a private office to give your employees more choices of where to get their work done and to accommodate hybrid workers or contractors who aren’t permanently in the office. 

How hot desking works

Hot desking essentially works on a ‘plug-and-play’ basis. That means you can turn up to a hot desking location (like a coworking space) without booking, sit down at an available desk, plug in your laptop, and get started. Payment is typically taken on a daily basis, meaning you can choose to work at a hot desk for just one day a week and don’t have to pay for anything else.  

But the particulars depend on the specific setup of the workplace you’ve chosen. Some workplaces, for example, might require you to book a hot desk ahead of time so that they can manage their capacity. Others might have hot desks alongside dedicated desks, which you can reserve for a set number of days a week on a monthly basis.

In terms of what you get with a hot desk, it again varies depending on the specific coworking space or workplace you choose. Generally, though, a hot desk will also include access to:

• Power sockets 
• High-speed WiFi
• Printing facilities
• A locker or small storage space
• A shared kitchen
• Meeting rooms or phone booths

Hot desk memberships

While hot desks are often available on a completely flexible basis, as outlined above, some providers also offer more comprehensive hot desk membership options. 

These memberships often involve paying a set fee on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis, and they entitle you to unlimited access to the hot desking space.

If you’re committed to hot desking, a membership like this can help you to save money versus paying for hot desk access on a daily basis. A membership will also sometimes offer additional benefits, like priority access for meeting room bookings or invites to events.

The Boutique Members Club is our version of a hot desk membership, available on a monthly, quarterly, or annual tariff. It gives you access to the coworking lounges in 10 of our vibrant workplaces across London, giving you the perfect alternative to working at a coffee shop.

You also get access to over 40 meeting rooms across London, with special rates for members, and invites to weekly networking events. And you can give it a go with no risk by starting a free trial!

Benefits of hot desking

Hot desking is becoming a part of the status quo for workplace options for good reason. While it’s not for everybody, hot desking offers some distinct benefits compared to a traditional private office. They include:

More flexibility

The hot desk system is designed to offer workers the maximum amount of flexibility possible in a workplace. They can choose to sit wherever they want, allowing them to adopt an activity-based working style where they choose their desk based on what they’re trying to achieve.

Better collaboration

As opposed to a traditional office, where people tend to exclusively sit next to other members of their team, hot desking allows for a more collaborative workplace experience. This enables better cross-team collaboration, allowing different teams to mingle when they need to. 

Cost-effectiveness

Choosing a hot desking workplace for your business means that you can generally significantly cut costs compared to a traditional private office. You can pay for just as much access as you need and scale your memberships up or down with your team to save money overall.

Perfect for the hybrid system

In a hybrid working system, where employees spend their working time between the workplace and their home, hot desking makes perfect sense. It gives employees more freedom to decide when to come into the office, and reduces the amount of space you need to reserve for them.

Networking opportunities

Hot desks are often part of a broader coworking environment, which puts you in direct contact with other businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. This can open up new opportunities for your business, allowing you to make new connections.

How to choose between hot desks or an office

Making the decision between hot desks in a coworking space or business lounge and a traditional private office isn’t as simple as it might seem. There are pros and cons to both approaches to workplace strategy, and which one is right for your business depends entirely on its specifics.

If you’re a freelancer who works alone and only needs a workplace for two days a week, for example, then a hot desk is probably clearly the ideal choice. 

But if you’re representing a business of 100+ people, the decision gets more difficult. While hot desking could still work well if you use a hybrid working strategy, the appeal of a permanent private office space is also compelling. 

There’s also a third option to consider – a flexible serviced office. This combines some of the key benefits of hot desking, namely the flexibility and cost-effectiveness, with the privacy offered by having your own office.

Our collection of workplaces across London and the rest of the UK contains both flexible serviced offices and hot desk lounges. Take a look today and find your perfect workplace.