Chances are you’re here as either an employee or an employer, seeking clarification as to why or how flexible working arrangements are better than the traditional, rigid working structure. First off, welcome.

Second, yes. Work can be flexible, whether it be location or hours and it is your choice whether your business becomes adaptable, malleable and responsive to its surrounding environment. Forbes reported that “71% want the option to work remotely, citing a better work-life balance (60%), reduced transport costs (47%), and lower carbon footprint (35%) as the biggest influencing factors”.

Need more proof? Well, we’ve compiled five irrefutable reasons why businesses are seeking flexible working especially post COVID-19.

Reason #1: The de-densification of your office

In response to the global pandemic and enforced lockdown, “many businesses will need to rethink their real estate and workplace strategies”. Basically, why would you pay for space you can’t use?

Safe Work Australia have listed appropriate considerations to actively protects workers from exposure to COVID-19, which includes:

• considering working from home arrangements
• requiring workers to practice physical distancing
• requiring workers to practice good hygiene (e.g., through workplace policies and ensuring access to adequate and well stocked hygiene facilities)
• requiring workers to stay home when sick, and
• cleaning the workplace regularly and thoroughly.

Working remotely autonomously or in designated groups is clearly the way we’re headed. With social distancing heavily impacting office spaces across Australia, the value of a flexible working space that allows employees to come and go is now greater than the original rental fee to be located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD.

Here at Waterman, all our Centres are now ‘Safe Workplace’ compliant, which ensures that our community is actively protected in a safe and dynamic environment.

Reason #2: Increased cost efficiency

You should also take into consideration the fact that major global organisations like IBM and Microsoft use coworking spaces. Speaking to Commercial Real Estate, John Cooksey (Director of Affinity People) highlighted that coworking spaces “offer a lower-cost, lower-commitment, flexible entry into a particular market.”

In fact, 69% of surveyed Waterman Members chose our facilities because of our highly competitive price point.

Whether it’s an entrepreneur, freelancer or a major corporate company, coworking spaces offer the flexibility of space and contracts on top of a tantalising price point.

“As opposed to renting a leased office, you only pay for the space you really need in a coworking office. Facilities like toilets, kitchens, meeting rooms and break rooms are communal,” which means businesses don’t have to take on the stress, cost and burden of expected facilities.

Whether it’s a hot desk, dedicated desk or serviced office, it’s time to work your own way.

Reason #3: Meet client needs and expectations

We live in a different time. It’s that simple.

So many clients nowadays are looking for the convenience of virtual video calls as opposed to face-to-face meetings that arguably take up excess time, travel and resources. Zoom reported that “usage has soared from 10 million daily meeting participants back in December to 300 million [in April 2020]”. The same goes for competitors like Microsoft Teams and Google Hangout, respectively reporting 75 million daily active users and over 100 million daily Meet participants.

The value therefore of private meeting rooms that offer video conference capabilities is higher than it’s ever been.

Across all Waterman Centres we offer the convenience of easy-to-use video conferencing facilities, on top of ‘Safe Workplace’ compliant meeting rooms. These bookable spaces allow you to host a hybrid meeting that meets client needs, within a visually appealing space that meets your clients expectations.

Why pay for space you’re not using? Instead, why not pay for the space you need, when you need it?

Reason #4: Increase employee morale by giving them what they want

66% of employees want to feel valued and recognised. This trumps free food or bean bags, no?

Giving employees what they want is a win-win. By offering staff the opportunity to reduce stress induced through that mad dash to the train or managing work around caring for children or elderly relatives, employers enjoy “Retaining staff and saving the tens of thousands of dollars it costs to replace them”.

 would prefer a working lifestyle that was more mobile. Think flexible hours, allowing space for the school drop-off and pick-up and personal appointments.

Here at Waterman, 58% of our surveyed Members confirmed that they chose our facilities because of its location. The next biggest factor was our community. 30% of surveyed Members chose Waterman because of that intangible experience of meeting like minded individuals who boost your drive, inspiration and growth.

We offer what our Members need. Better yet, we offer what they want.

Reason #5: Encourage employee efficiency

By giving your employees the freedom and flexibility to work their own way, you’re demonstrating that you trust them. Basically, increased trust translates into improved productivity.

Remote work seems to also come hand with a growth in staff surveillance or a lack of trust. Rather than measuring an employees’ inputs, “companies will shift to results and forward-looking metrics like market share and customer feedback.”

Referring back to our earlier reason on cost efficiency and employee morale, trust and employee efficiency also results in “increased retention and productivity, and drops in absenteeism”.

One simple thing, trust, could help pivot your business to see 16% greater profit margin, 19% greater operating margin and 18% greater productivity!

Sounds pretty attractive, doesn’t it?

With locations across Melbourne, Waterman Business Centres offers you what you need — convenience, community, comfort and connectivity. Our flexible arrangements allow you to work your own way.

If you’re interested in discussing how Waterman can help your business, contact us today.