Hot Desks

Why do they call it a hot desk?

The term “hot desk” has its origins in a similars term related to US Navy sailors known as “hot racking” which refers to the warmth or heat created in shared bunk beds that kept them “hot” from the last batch of servicemen using them. So the “hot racking” of beds was utilized by our current workspaces to name “hot desks” with their common name as these desks are also in continuous use by workers working different shifts.

The term “hot desk” means that a diverse range of users of the same workstation, use the same area at alternating times of the same day. Hot Desking has been used for professions such as call centers since the 1990s as a handy alternative to traditional offices for providing cost-effectiveness and efficient use of space by workers.

It first started in the big-budget property market to expand the working space used by workers, and it has gradually grown to accommodate collective spaces and gadgets.

What is the difference between a hot desk and a dedicated desk?

The first major difference between a hot desk and a dedicated desk is the enhanced cost efficiency of hot desks, as they offer monthly membership or other similar options, attracting workers with flexible work routines benefiting from the lower costs and versatility provided by the system.

Secondly, “Hot Desk” provides a better opportunity to collaborate with new people and teams, learning from new ideas and teamwork chances. “Hot Desks” aid in developing a dynamic and diverse workspace environment distinguished by continuous activity and frequent communication.

Dedicated desks on the other hand provide a perfect atmosphere for creating long-term workspace collaborations, participation in team events, and forming a feeling of togetherness. The third way “hot desks” differ from “dedicated desks”, is the level of privacy and flexibility on offer, both of which work in opposite ways.

Hot desks limit your privacy greatly by leaving you without any personal space but offer you the flexibility of not committing to a permanent desk space for your office, offering you the freedom to switch your workspace, on a regular (daily, weekly, or monthly) basis. Dedicated desks provide reasonable privacy in your workspace where you can feel free to leave your documents, valuables, and other accessories for use in the future.

Similarly, dedicated desks also provide a suitable workplace for companies, that don’t require as much flexibility as “hot desks” yet still are unsure about deciding on a long-term lease. So, in short, “hot desks” and “dedicated desks” are opposites of each other, in terms of the permanent and short-term options they provide for setting up your workspace.

What is meant by a “hot desk”?

A hot desk is simply an adaptable workspace design in which workers can have any empty desk or workstation, instead of having a reserved desk space for their work only. Hot desks are mostly used in coworking workplaces and businesses with a remote work policy or in a work environment that requires workers to be out of the office most of the time.

It offers the advantage of hybrid and flexible working as employees can show up and get to work without having a fixed work schedule which helps workers to avoid burnout. Several “hot desking” arrangements can be implemented to cater to the needs of hybrid workspaces, flexible work environments, or collaborative workspaces.

The first hot desking model is the “office neighborhood” model, in which an arrangement of desks is reserved for a specific department of workers, within each grouping of desks, “hot desks” are used to provide for each employee’s seating requirements. The second arrangement for “hot desking” is the Activity Based Workspace model consisting of a specific number of desks or an area, created to allow for activity-based collaboration, in the workplace.

These activity-based collaborations can range from personal desks for individual work, to private offices to group work and desks for team-specific tasks.

The third kind of arrangement for “hot desking” is the agile workspace model that provides almost unlimited flexibility to perform a certain task including when, where, and how to complete the task. Lastly there is the first come first served model for “hot desking” in the workspace which prevents unused reserved space from going to waste as workers only use a desk that is available when they come in.

What is a hot desk vs a private desk?

A private desk space is usually enclosed within a separate room providing the employee with ergonomic furniture that offers superior comfort and a calm and personalized work environment that boosts productivity. A private desk allows you to personalize the workplace to suit your specific needs such as modifying the layout, adding custom furniture, or altering the size of different areas.

Whereas hot desking provides the opportunity to work on a certain project for a limited time and then part ways and leads to large-scale collaborations between individuals and teams, it does not provide the privacy and security of a private desk workspace. On the other hand, a private desk space is more expensive and would have a long-term contract associated with its lease too.

Some private desks are also offered as part of coworking spaces that give you the option of being connected, with a diverse range of individuals, while still having your personal office space.