The Great Desk Debate: Assigned vs. Reservable

Hey there,

Effectively driving employees back to the office is top priority for workplace leaders. In this edition, we talk about the great desk debate: reservable or assigned seating. Which will motivate employees more?

Let’s dive in.

Assigned desks vs. reservable desks. Which is better and why?

When companies transitioned to hybrid work , many eliminated assigned seating in favor of hot-desking or desk hoteling policies. Now, as organizations aim to bring employees back to the office effectively, they’re rethinking these decisions.

Recently, companies like Salesforce have rolled back their new policies, reverting to assigned seating. They believe assigned seating may encourage more in-office time because it:

• Eliminates hygiene concerns
• Increases physical and psychological comfort
• Simplifies the in-office experience

However, assigned seating can lead to underutilized space if every employee isn’t in the office 5 days a week. Finding the balance between employee experience and cost savings is crucial for efficiency, but isn’t always straightforward.?

At the Occupancy Intelligence Summit panelists Mark Bell, VP of Corporate Real Estate and Mobility at Raymond James, and Jason Finneran, Workplace Experience Specialist at Bread Financial, shared their thoughts on this debate. As leaders in workplace experience and real estate, they both agreed that flexibility is key.

?

“I think overall, having a reservable desk policy is the right way to go, but you've always got reasons for people to have an assigned desk. Whether it's an accommodation, or the type of work they do. If you're a resident and you're expected to be in the office 4, 5 days a week, we're gonna give you a desk”

- Mark Bell

?

“I think it also depends on what your mandate is. If you're required to come into the office 4 or 5 days a week, maybe you should have your own desk. If you're in the office full time. But I think reservable works out well because you can multi-use the space.” - Jason Finneran

?

Consider a flexible desk policy that combines assigned and reservable desks, catering to the diverse needs of employees. Tailor desk policies to individual teams and locations to maximize efficiency and productivity, so you can strike a balance between organizational needs and employee satisfaction.?

So what do you think?

For more valuable insights and expert advice, watch the full Occupancy Intelligence Summit here .

In Other News...

• The way teams work has changed, here's how .
• Are more people learning to use AI? Coursea says yes.
• Here are 3 tips to optimizing workplace efficiency.
• Remote work is still popular, but more people are in the office 1 day a week.

See ya next time ??

The VergeSense Team

Know someone who might be interested in staying up-to-date on the latest workplace trends & insights? Be sure to pass this newsletter along. Subscribe now.