Is Giving Up Your Desk the Future of Hybrid Work?

The idea of giving up your personal desk—does it make you cringe or cheer? Many organizations are moving toward a hoteling model to save costs and accommodate hybrid work, but making it work smoothly is another story.

In this episode, Wayne Turmel and Marisa Eikenberry tackle the challenges of hoteling, from loss of control and hygiene concerns to desk wars and office politics. Plus, they offer practical solutions for leaders to involve employees, test the model, and ensure a smoother transition.

Thanks to listener Benjamin for inspiring this conversation! If your organization is considering hoteling, this episode is for you.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:48 A listener question sparks today's topic
01:21 What is hoteling? A quick definition
02:28 Why losing your assigned seat feels so personal
05:55 Hygiene concerns: Should you trust a shared desk?
07:16 Setup & breakdown: The hassle of moving every day
09:45 The business case: Why companies are pushing hoteling
12:11 The trade-offs of office space reduction
14:40 How teams can self-organize for smoother transitions
17:48 Small frustrations that create major workplace tensions
18:30 How to pilot a hoteling program before rolling it out
20:43 Final thoughts