10 top tips for

hard-working hot desk areas

Is your workspace working

hard enough for you?

Having a hot desk area can help you make more effective use of your office.

With more and more companies adopting flexible working, It’s time to consider how to use your existing space more productively – a recent study* found that just 59% of desks are occupied during the traditional working week.

* Utilisation of the office report commissioned by AWA

Whether you’re looking to improve your existing hot desk area, or create a new one, read our top tips first!

utilisation of the office report commissioned by AWA

1. How often will it be used? I t m i g h t b e b e s t t o s e t u p a n a re a w h i c h h a s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o f u l fi l a v a r i e t y o f f u n c t i o n s . Yo u c o u l d c h o o s e t a b l e s w h i c h w o r k a s h o t d e s k s b u t c a n b e re a r r a n g e d i n t o c o n f e re n c e o r m e e t i n g ro o m c o n fi g u r a t i o n s .

2. Think about how many people will be using the space, and whether it’s likely to vary considerably from day-to-day. S p a c e - s a v i n g f o l d i n g t a b l e s a re re m a r ka b l y s t u d y o n c e s e t - u p b u t c a n b e ke p t h i d d e n a w a y f o r w h e n y o u n e e d t o b o o s t c a p a c i t y.

3. Make sure everyone’s sitting comfortablyc h o o s e c h a i r s t h a t a re e a s i l y a d j u s t a b l e a n d s u i t a v a r i e t y o f u s e r s . I n v e s t i n g i n q u a l i t y s e a t i n g re a l l y p a y s d i v i d e n d s a s i t l a s t s s o m u c h l o n g e r.

4. If you have members of staff with specific needs that regularly visit the workplace then make sure you cater for their needs. Fo r ex a m p l e y o u m i g h t n e e d o ffi c e c h a i r s d e s i g n e d t o a c c o m m o d a t e h e a v i e r u s e r s .

5. Ensure you have plenty of power points and network cables so that everyone can plug in their laptops quickly and easily.I f y o u h a v e a Wi - Fi c o n n e c t i o n f o r y o u r s t a ff t o u s e t h e n m a ke s u re t h e l o g i n d e t a i l s a re c l e a r l y d i s p l a y e d t o a v o i d u n n e c e s s a r y c a l l s t o t h e I T d e p a r t m e n t .

6. Equip your hot desk area with the supplies your staff will need -

i t ’ s a g o o d i d e a t o h a v e s o m e o ffi c e s t a t i o n e r y f o r p e o p l e t o u s e a n d d o n ’ t f o rg e t t o h a v e a p r i n t e r o r a m u l t i - f u n c t i o n m a c h i n e t h a t ’ s e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o o .

7. A few extra details will help make your hot desk area a place where people enjoy working. M a ke s u re e v e r y o n e k n o w s t h e b a s i c s , f ro m w h e re t o g o i f t h e fi re a l a rm g o e s o ff t o h o w t o w o r k t h e c o ff e e m a c h i n e . I f y o u u s e a s p e c i fi c m o b i l e p h o n e m o d e l f o r t h e w o r k f o rc e t h e n i t ’ s a n i c e t o u c h t o h a v e a s p a re c h a rg e r a v a i l a b l e .

8. Don’t forget storage!I f y o u h a v e m e m b e r s o f s t a ff t h a t re g u l a r l y u s e t h e h o t d e s k a re a s , o r a re i n s t a l l i n g h o t d e s k i n g f o r a l l y o u r o ffi c e s t a ff t h e n y o u n e e d t o t h i n k a b o u t s t o r a g e s u c h a s l o c ke r s f o r s t a ff .

9. If you’re looking to accommodate as many users as possible then think about the shape of your desking. B e n c h d e s k i n g ( re c t a n g u l a r s h a p e d ) i s f a r m o re s p a c e e ffi c i e n t t h a n r a d i a l ( c u r v e d ) d e s k i n g , a n d i f p e o p l e a re u s i n g l a p t o p s t h e y ’ l l s t i l l h a v e s u ffi c i e n t s p a c e t o w o r k c o m f o r t a b l y.

10. Remember the office is changing, so your hot desk area doesn’t have to consist of desks and chairs. S o f t s e a t i n g a re a s w i t h i n t e g r a t e d p o w e r s o c ke t s a re a g re a t i d e a i f y o u r w h o l e t e a m i s n o rm a l l y m o b i l e b u t re g u l a r l y m e e t s u p i n t h e o ffi c e . T h e s e k i n d s o f s p a c e s re a l l y e n c o u r a g e c o l l a b o r a t i v e w o r k i n g a n d b r a i n s t o rm i n g .

If you’re thinking about changing your office

space or just exploring your options then

remember that Banner Business Services offer a free, no-obligation, planning and design

service. Our expertise can really make a

difference to your project, and we might just suggest a solution you never imagined

possible.