Somebody Had 5 Big Complaints About Coworking
by Chris Allen
and, This Cow Is Wearing Roller Skates
Apparently there are some people complaining about how horrible coworking is. It appears that there are at least two people who think coworking and all the things it stands for are a terrible scourge upon the landscape of the modern workforce.
Mr. Frank Chalupa, yes Chalupa, has made a list of the 5 biggest complaints about open coworking spaces. No matter that he is the Co-Founder and President of Amata Office Solutions, a company that offers traditional office space. I wonder if those 5 were the only complaints, or his ghost writing team thought that 5 was a better number for SEO. I guess we’ll never know.
What we do know is the contents of said list that he was willing to attach his name to. Maybe even more surprisingly, Huff Post was willing to post it in their business section. Though at this point I am not sure I should be surprised by anything they do.
As WeWork just closed another funding round at a $5 Billion valuation and we hear success story after success story about coworking spaces it seems that not only has the American workforce spoken out in favor of coworking, but so have the venture capitalists. In our coworking space, Originate, we have seen exciting growth, and awesome relationships form.
“The List”
Maybe we could spin this out into a melodrama on ABC where middle class people stand in their yards and yell at each other. Alas, that is a post for another day.
- “No seat for you!”
Not a morning person? You might want to readjust your schedule. Showing up to a coworking space after 9 a.m. could mean sitting next to the elevator, kitchen, or other high-traffic areas where it’s difficult to concentrate. Even if you’re lucky enough to snag one of the better seats in the house, you could find yourself fending off desk snatchers if you step away for lunch or a quick coffee run.
My favorite part is the “desk snatchers” bit. Come on, desk snatchers, is that the sequel to Body Snatchers the 1993 horror hit. Sounds like it. Ugh, desk snatchers. If you are worried about desk snatching at Originate, worry no more. We have reserved desk for full time members. I don’t know about you, but sitting next to the kitchen sounds great to me.
2. “Yes, we can hear you now.”
Sitting in a new seat each day is great for networking, unless you’re next to a loud neighbor who takes personal calls at their desk and would rather talk about what they did last night than anything business-related. Translation: pack your noise-canceling headphones.
The list is about to spiral out and lose all touch with reality. I know it seems like we are already there, but it gets worse people. I wonder whether Señor Chalupa has ever been in a real coworking space or this is just his caricature of what it looks like when those “Millenials” get together without their closed offices and cubicles. I think he is describing a high school cafeteria where some girl named Cathy steals your seat and then eats her lasagna with her mouth open while she talks about her parents llama farm. Like every real coworking space we offer reservable phone rooms, and lots of space you can pop into in an emergency to have a private call.
3. “Is it hot in here, or is it just me?”
Lighting and temperature can directly impact a worker’s performance and productivity, yet the majority of coworking spaces offer little control over these and other workplace variables. A Cornell study found the optimal office temperature to be 77 degrees, which is bound to be too warm for some, too cool for others and “just right” for the rest. Other research has found that exposure to natural light helps keep employees alert and focused. While fans, space heaters and desk lamps can help — if you have a place to store them, that is (see #4) — sometimes the best way to avoid the Goldilocks effect is to look for a workspace with customization options.
This one is just a non-paid ad for Señor Chalupa’s business suite offerings. I am surprised he didn’t put a winky face emoji at the end of the last sentence. Not being able to control the thermostat could also be used as a deterrent for marriage, but sometimes the result is worth a little sweat. And sometimes you just wear a tank-top into the office. Oh, that’s right, you have that pesky dress code. Too bad.
4. “Pack your bags.”
Some coworking spaces take a minimalist approach, offering a desk, chair and little else. That means workers have to cart their personal belongings to and from the office each day, or try cramming them into a small storage locker (which usually comes with an additional fee). This can be more than just a minor inconvenience. Without having a dedicated place to store food, beverages and other office “necessities,” workers may find themselves eating out at nearby restaurants more frequently, a habit that can be bad for the pocketbook — and the waistline.
Yeah, that makes sense. People who work in traditional offices NEVER go eat out. They would much rather eat their tuna salad sandwhich in the gray cafeteria with flourescent lights, or at their cubicle… I bet Amata Office Solutions has a really poppin cafeteria.
Any space worth their salt (food pun!) has room dedicated for eating, and yes, drinking.
5. “Can you give me a minute?”
A thoughtfully designed coworking space will include separate huddle rooms and phone booths for private calls and conversations, but not all office providers follow this blueprint. Workers who do not have access to enclosed meeting areas may have to resort to using lobbies and other public spaces with a lot of background noise, limited seating, and few work surfaces for laptops and notepads.
This brings back the lunchroom vision. I get it, you don’t like people loud talking around you. You didn’t need to add another pointless point just to reiterate your loud talker fears. Didn’t Dr. Chalupa just complain about making phone calls like 2 complains ago? Yeah, we got that covered.
Just like some people have problems with Ferraris, cheeseburgers and true love. Some people just hate coworking. Not everyone loves collaboration and open supportive workplaces. Places where your neighbor doesn’t have to help you with your problem, but wants to anyway.
Some feel better with the safely and security of a time clock and a cubicle with a nameplate on their desk. Some desire that less, but it seems the tide is turning. Large successful companies have caught on, utilizing coworking spaces for their distributed workforce. Providing increased benefits for their teams.
Coworking isn’t for everyone, and I am sure there are some people out there who have had bad experiences. But, coworking is built around communities of people who are all striving for common goals. Hustle and determination are valued over corner offices and better benefits packages. Let the haters hate, let the suits and ties in the cubes rant, we’ll be too busy to hear.
