The term hot desking originated in Chicago in the 1990s. The idea came from the phrase hot racking when sailors would share bunk beds on a ship. The sailors would work in shifts, and once their shift was over they would take the first available bunk bed they found. Hot desking works in a similar way. With hot desking people can reserve a seat at a desk whenever they need one, for however long they need it. Once they are done using it, that space will become available for the next person to reserve. Desk space can be shared among people from different professional backgrounds and industries which opens the floor to new collaborations. Alternatively, you could choose to rent a room for a group of people. Hot desking offers a flexible solution to ever-changing work dynamics. Pros Save on unnecessary costs One of the biggest advantages of hot desking [...]

In our introductory post to Flex space solutions post “Flexible Workspace what is it and who benefits?” we explained flex space refers to office space provided outside the “conventional lease” markets. In Toronto, this includes coworking space, most business centres and shared office space providers. As corporate businesses learn more about how the flex space networking culture and entrepreneurial environment affects their employees and see the results, flexible workspace has the makings of becoming a long-term trend in this segment of the office space market. When you dig, you see there is far more driving the move to a flexible workspace by corporations than to a cheap office space. Why Flexible Workspace is Tailor Made for Satellite and Branch Offices To move employees from corporate headquarters to a satellite or branch office requires a lot of time and energy from managers and support workers to procure, furnish, decorate, and outfit an office space with […]

Shared office space in Toronto can come in several forms with a variety of payment terms, overhead and types of office space being shared. The list includes: Coworking office space Traditional office space where 2 or more businesses share the office expense Semi-private Office in a Business Centre where 2 businesses share an office Team office space is a larger office shared by several employees of a single business Flexible workspaces The Pros and Cons of Coworking Shared office Space Coworking office space is like a business centre that charges a monthly membership fee rather than a monthly rental fee. More networking opportunities are perceived to be one of the advantage, however, at telsec we have seen that there is also a sense of community and collaboration in our business centre. The biggest advantage that coworking provides is in the low costs and use of shared business equipment and support […]

  Why Home Offices Should Move to an Alternative Office Space It’s true: working from the comfort of your home may be an idyllic scenario for those who are self-employed, or for online entrepreneurs running a small business with only a handful of remote employees. Depending on where you live, a home office can also spare you the time, expense and hassle of a commute. However, it’s also true that working from home has its drawbacks — and many more than you might expect, if not already experienced. Here, we explore why you should move your office from your home to an alternative office space, such as a shared, traditional (private or semi-private), or coworking space — or at the very least, consider renting a virtual office. De-Romanticizing the Home Office: A Reality Check When discussing their decision to move their business from a home office to a private or […]

Coworking space has evolved to mean much more than simply shared office space. While coworking office space is an accessible and affordable alternative to renting a traditional commercial office space, lower operational cost is no longer its strongest selling point. As noted in our previous article about the changing needs of coworking space in 2017, small business owners and entrepreneurs are now seeking a sense of community with other like-minded professionals. So what makes for a sense of “community”? For some small business owners, it may mean an environment that fosters professional networking, or alleviates the isolation of an individual or home office. For others, it may mean working alongside those sharing an industry or vocation, such as tech development or remote freelancing. For still others, it may mean a sense of exclusivity, such as coworking spaces that are solely dedicated to women. Regardless of what it may mean to […]

I recently read an interesting Flexible Workspace Study about how flex space is perceived by end users; individuals responsible for procuring office space for their companies; coworking and serviced office providers and landlords. The survey was not huge as the study describes its composition as being “The survey was sent to over 500 people across the industry.”. However, combined with my experiences here at Telsec Business Centres for going on 4 years and as an end user I’d agree with much of what the study shows as the benefits of the workplace environment for workers and organizations. What is Flexible Workspace or Flex Space? Flexible workspace: the term the industry uses to refer to any type of space outside of the conventional lease market. Identifying the different types of respondents included excellent definitions for coworking; serviced offices; hybrid office providers which are office space providers with a mix of coworking and serviced office space and flexible workspace which includes all […]