What is flexible seating vs. hot desking?

Flexible seating and hot desking are two types of workspace arrangements that offer flexibility and adaptability to the changing needs of workers.

Flexible seating refers to a workspace layout where employees can choose where and how they work within a designated area. This can include options like standing desks, beanbag chairs, and other unconventional seating options. Employees are encouraged to move around and find a workspace that best suits their needs and preferences.

Hot desking, on the other hand, refers to a workspace arrangement where employees do not have assigned seats and instead work in any available workspace on a first-come, first-served basis. This can include shared desks, workstations, or tables, and employees are expected to clear their workspace at the end of the day.

While both flexible seating and hot desking offer increased flexibility and a more dynamic work environment, there are some differences between the two. Flexible seating typically allows employees more freedom to choose where they work, while hot desking tends to be more structured and focused on optimizing workspace utilization.