Why WeWork’s Flexible Workspaces Are The Offices Of The Future
From millennials to baby boomers, professionals not only want careers they are passionate about but also a work environment and community where they can strive for personal fulfillment. Flexible workspace has emerged as a way to meet those goals. Workers with access to this type of environment are less stressed and have higher productivity levels, according to a study from the American Sociological Review.
Large corporations have caught on to the changing desires and needs of employees, and are partnering with companies like WeWork to help build a modern work environment. Corporations are looking for solutions that provide ample desk space and address people, culture, organizational strategy, financial operations, changing markets and office environment.
While some companies are investing a lot of capital to upgrade their office spaces, others are teaming up with a network of user-focused, service-rich office environments that support collaboration, creative thinking and work-life integration.
At WeWork, members benefit from an efficient use of space, with the flexibility to grow or shrink their footprint or enter and leave new markets opportunistically. WeWork also offers operating solutions for members that take the large fixed costs off the member company as a whole. By creating a vibrant, global community, the company supports creators of all sizes and needs, helping people find greater meaning in their work to be successful.
Miguel McKelvey and Adam Neumann founded WeWork with the mission to combine modern, shared spaces with an emphasis on community. Over the past seven years, its network has expanded to 156 locations in 49 cities and 15 countries to create unmatched global service and a community of nearly 130,000 members.
WeWork Flex offers hot desks for any number of employees all over the world. Enterprise members have access to private offices supporting from one to 100 employees, as well as dedicated floors for companies with 100 to 500 employees. Companies also have the option of taking an entire WeWork location for teams of over 500 people, and creating a custom build-out.
"At WeWork, we think of the office as so much more than just a workspace. We spend many of our waking hours working, so we believe that every person who goes to an office should be inspired by their surroundings," WeWork Chief Product Officer Dave Fano said. "The workplace is where community and meaning happen. WeWork helps facilitate a positive and meaningful work experience, and we want companies of all sizes to benefit from WeWork."
WeWork works with companies to create customized solutions. From optimizing security and meeting IT needs to protecting intellectual property, its in-house teams work to build the right solutions for members.
Microsoft is the latest enterprise to join WeWork. The companies joined forces to pioneer the “City as a Campus” concept, providing Tri-State employees with WeWork memberships and two regional hubs. Over 300 Microsoft employees received these memberships and enjoy dedicated Microsoft “touchdown” spaces in Lower Manhattan, Chelsea, Midtown and Brooklyn. At the spaces, members can stop in to catch up on work, host customers for meetings and demonstrations or just recharge.
While each enterprise member has its own goal when partnering with WeWork, many are attracted to the cost-saving, flexibility and talent recruitment and retainment aspects of investing in a flexible workspace. At WeWork, the modern office comes with a strong culture and sense of community.
WeWork has nearly 1,000 enterprise members globally, making up approximately 20% of WeWork total membership. From March 2016 to March 2017, WeWork’s enterprise member segment has grown 170%. Currently, five buildings are occupied by only one or two members, an indicator that enterprise is WeWork’s fastest-growing segment.
By using space more efficiently and creatively, WeWork continues to expand its enterprise footprint. The traditional cost challenges for companies are becoming more manageable through WeWork’s service offerings and community platform.
For additional information on WeWork and its product offerings, visit wework.com.
