There is no denying that the way offices work has changed since the global pandemic. While remote work is not a new phenomenon, many businesses have been forced into adopting it.
In the process, many businesses have realised they can cut costs by dropping permanent office rentals. They've also found that with these changes, employees are just as productive, if not more. As reported by ONS, remote employees tend to work longer hours and even provide unpaid overtime.
However, remote work does come with some drawbacks. According to a survey by Microsoft and CIPD, 60% of homeworkers felt less connected to their colleagues. 36% also said that they felt they had a hard time making an impact. Almost a third of respondents feared they were being passed on for promotion because there was less face-to-face interaction.
It seems like there’s a need for teams to meet in person once in a while to maintain their relationships and morale. A good way to achieve that is with daily office space rental. Instead of having a full-time private office that stands empty most of the time, a day office can be booked on demand.
This solution can also benefit other types of homeworkers who feel lonely or unproductive, from freelancers to startup founders.
What are day offices?
Similar to traditional office space, a one-day office rental is a private area dedicated to your company. It is a quiet place where your team can conduct their tasks without worrying about confidentiality breaches.
You can also use this workspace to lead team meetings, presentations, orientations, or client appointments.
Unlike a traditional office, you only pay for the time you use a day office. In some instances, this short-term office rental is even available to book by the hour.
It is also ready to use the minute you get there. It’s fully equipped with furniture, business-grade Wi-Fi, IT support, and other amenities. This ends up saving you both time and money.
When you rent an office for a day, you can be completely flexible. You can book it relatively last minute, in a variety of locations, and according to the number of people you plan to work with.
How do day offices differ from meeting rooms?
On the surface, it may seem that meeting rooms and day offices are the same. They are both private workspaces that can be booked on demand. However, there are a few key differences:
1. In most cases, meeting rooms are rental space by the hour, while day offices are booked for the entire day. Some providers will allow for hourly or daily booking of both, but the price might change accordingly.
2. Meeting rooms, as you can conclude from the name, are usually set up for group collaborations. While the furniture can sometimes be adjusted to facilitate brainstorming sessions, training, etc., it's not usually set up for individual work.
Daily workspace rental has a more traditional office structure with individual workstations.
3. While it's up to the provider, most day office rentals give you access to the entire facility. Since you'll be using the place for the day, you'll receive a key card, the use of break areas, the kitchen, and other facilities.
Some meeting rooms may offer that. But since those are usually used to host guests, more often, everyone will have to sign up at reception.
Depending on your needs, you might decide a meeting room is more suitable. For example, if you want your guests to be greeted by a professional receptionist.
However, if you have a looming deadline where you need to focus on work without distractions, a day office could be the better choice.
How do day offices differ from coworking spaces?
First, it's important to note that some people talk about coworking spaces as a catch-all term. They might mean any type of flexible office space where you can find hot desks, day offices, and meeting rooms.
However, the exact definition of a coworking space is a shared office for people from various companies. It is usually an open-space area where you can either have a permanent desk or a hot desk.
The key difference here is less privacy. Even if you have a row of permanent desks, you’ll still be surrounded by people from other businesses. It may not be the best place to work on confidential material.
It also might be harder to focus as people come and go and tend to talk more in the coworking area. Some members choose it specifically to make new connections, so it might not be ideal if you need complete silence.
Also, workers often opt for a meeting room when taking meetings, rather than having them in a coworking space.
Benefits of renting a daily office space
There are multiple advantages to renting an office space for a day, whether you’re working as a freelancer or you own a large corporation.
Better collaborations
It’s so much easier for teams to work together when they have a shared place. There, they can ask questions and bounce ideas off each other in real-time.
Work-life balance
Sometimes, small business owners or freelancers can find it hard to concentrate when they work from spaces like their kitchen table. Temporary office space can provide a much-needed separation between home and work.
Available when you need it
You can usually rent a workspace for a day without too much notice. If you have a last-minute client meeting or an urgent project that requires a quiet work environment, it’s a hassle-free solution.
A variety of locations
Most short-term office space providers have facilities scattered around major cities and even around the world. Once you sign up with them, you can book any of their locations.
This is great for organisations that have global teams or small business owners who travel for work.
Complete privacy
Office space for a day allows you to work on confidential projects. You are completely separated from the outside world, with a secure Wi-Fi network and a door that you can lock when you leave.
What businesses would benefit from a day office rental?
A day office can fit various company sizes, industries, and situations. Here are a few examples.
A tech company with a hybrid work model
Some companies may be tempted to put up their employees in a coworking space for one or two days a week. However, the best way to cultivate a company culture, even with hybrid working, is to ensure the employees develop relationships, both in and outside of the workplace.
A remote global company with multiple branches
Even if an organisation is completely remote, there are still situations where they need to have team meetings and events. Employees should have the opportunity to meet their colleagues in person once in a while to help them feel connected.
A daily rental of a serviced office can facilitate that across the cities where the company operates.
A startup with a data-sensitive project
Startups tend to hire freelancers, constructors, and remote workers. However, those sometimes work using an unsecured network.
If a startup is working on a project that has to remain confidential, it’s best to gather all the constructors under one roof. They can also rely on secure Wi-Fi in such a location.
How to find a day office space near me
If you’ve decided a day office is a good choice, you’ve reached the right place. At Regus, you can book a fully-equipped daily office on-demand at your desired location.
You can find the right office for you among our many offices around the world. Or, you can download the Regus app to find an available office near you on the go.
