The Pitfalls of Hot-Desking

The new trend among Australian companies, from small businesses to large corporations, is hot-desking. While this may sound like a cool idea to promote a flexible work culture, it's not always practical.

Lack of permanence

Moving around can pose a number of inconveniences. You have to figure out where you sit, check if the previous hot-desker left a mess (and have to contend with cleaning), and arrange your stuff each time you change seats. It's more convenient for an employee to just plop in front of the computer, knowing that her candy stash and post-its are right where he/she left them.

The classic case of temperament

In simple terms, extroverts get energy externally (activity and people around them), while introverts get energy internally (mind, inner world of ideas). Lumping them into one area is generally not a good idea. The extroverts have to fill the need to talk and socialise, while the introverts just want peace and quiet to listen to their thoughts.

Risk for disconnect

Employees can be separated from their friends and/or support group. As a result, they have to put up with others whom they don't need to interact with at all. 

Playing favourites

Who gets to sit with whom? Who gets the table with the view or the spot closer to the pantry? Do the managers sit with other employees? Establishing these rules can be confusing and a potential scenario for favouritism or arguments.


Hot-desking can freshen up work dynamics, but also bring out the worst personality clashes. Business owners and/or their HR should ask employees and evaluate if they are suitable for a mobile work structure.