Over at the Next Web, there’s an article on the growth of large companies using WeWork to augment some of their real estate requirements. It’s a fascinating trend to me because it’s essentially taking the modern office to its next logical step.
WeWork (and others like them) is a great option for companies that are looking to take flexible space for their employees. It helps to take some of the financial risks away from the company while giving employees a new option for how to work. Culturally, this also helps companies further adapt flexible working strategies across their larger employee base.
The future of the workplace is flexibility. The workforce, as well as the nature of work, is changing. Adapting flexibility to the real estate model supports both the financial and operational requirements of most organizations. The three to ten-year leased space fit-out with offices and expensive cubicles is slowly dying.
Companies like WeWork allow large corporations to adopt these principles with the lowest initial cost. Long-term, I’m still not convinced of the model. But for today, it’s a simple way to jump in.