Return to work: an argument in favor of unassigned seating
Amid the current wreckage of routines and norms, it is natural to gravitate to any illusion of personal control. A private office or workstation armored with family pictures and professional credentials may feel like a bulwark against chaos. Unfortunately, such a place may also be an isolating container for viral contamination.
Let us start with a few things we know, and then connect the dots.
Safety
The safest environment is one that is generously spaced and regularly cleaned, ideally immediately before and after use by the user. Touchable surfaces need to be sprayed with disinfectant cleaner and thoroughly wiped down. With assigned desks, the inevitable accumulation of personal belongings makes such regular cleaning impossible.
An unassigned desk free from clutter is likely to be more reliably cleaned than an assigned desk.
Cost Control
If people are working remotely at least some of the time, excess unassigned desks can be removed to allow for greater distancing at no additional cost, or total area may be reduced if lease timing is right.
The table below shows that if 40% of the workforce works remotely two days per week (60% retain assigned desks), 17% fewer desks are needed. If 80% of staff work remotely one day per week 11% fewer desks are needed. Even more dramatic savings can be achieved if a higher percentage of people work remotely some of the time.
Unassigned seating offers new opportunity for substantial cost savings.
Purpose of the office
Following months of work from home we recognize the true purpose of the office is to foster a sense of belonging, accountability, and trust. We crave the chance to look one another in the eye, collaborate in real-time, develop relationships, mentor and learn in unstructured ways.
Heads-down work is part of the mix, but not the driver. Solo work can happen at home for many or in a quiet setting within the office for those without suitable home office space.
Collective experience in the office is more important than individual domain.
CONCLUSION
Unassigned seating is more hygienic, more cost-effective, and more consistent with the collective purpose of the office than individual assigned seating. Rather than reject the whole concept, now may be the right time to solve for its drawbacks (personal storage, support for focus work and virtual collaboration, recognition of life stage needs) while capitalizing on a broad new awareness about work.