At the start of 2020, remote working was still a scarcely known term. In Italy, during 2019, smart workers only amounted to 570.000.
But almost one year ago, Covid came like a blizzard and subverted the way we lived and worked, abruptly proving that remote work was possible for many more people and companies.
On the one hand, remote working saved many businesses, lessening the economic repercussions the pandemic would bring; on the other hand, in the long-run, working from home arose some issues we never thought about before.
Always online, always available
Digital technology might have freed people to work remotely in the first place, but it also caused unforeseen problems. In fact, many people started to feel a growing expectation to be available 24/7, thus the perceived division between work and non-work has steadily disappeared. Research shows that being “always on” and accessible by technology while working remotely leads to the blurring of work and non-work boundaries, causing high stress levels.
Low performance
It has been proven that, in the long-term, with remote-working comes the risk of losing positive energy and social interaction and community – and potentially becoming less productive.
A study carried out by ISTAT (the Italian National Institute of Statistics) confirms that remote work has reduced productivity by 20% and management efficiency by 29,3%.
Co-working corner in Free Mind Foundry Campus
Thriving in co-working spaces
One solution turns out to be the co-working space since it gives a sense of community and face-to-face interaction and allows to be around other workers. In fact, co-working arose out of the necessity to eradicate remote-working isolation, while still working on projects and being in contact with other people. Usually, co-working spaces are made up very large environments that are not divided by walls like classic offices, allowing coworkers to collaborate with each other during work or during coffee breaks and develop new ideas through continuous brainstorming occasions.
Pros of co-working
Researchers have discovered that people who work in co-working spaces report levels of thriving that approach an average of 6 on a 7-point scale. This is because they feel like:
- Their work is meaningful: co-working spaces consist of members who work for a range of different companies, ventures, and projects. Co-workers are frequently asked to talk about what they do, which makes them feel more interesting and unique.
- They feel part of a community: working from home might feel isolating; human connection is the main reason why people work in a communal space.
- They feel like they have control: in co-working spaces, people have the opportunity to choose the environment they want to work in. They can choose whether to work in a quiet place or in a collaborative one.
FMF Campus amenities
In Free Mind Foundry, working together means sharing ideas and visions. The work environment was designed to connect people, objects and ideas, recreating comfortable and large spaces that make the office the place where living and working become a daily pleasure.
Soundproof phone booths, meeting rooms, smart desks and the conference center are the places in which businesses and projects bloom. Yet, relax and shared spaces are of equal importance: the digital fitness center, the gaming room and FMF Bar & Restaurant are all aimed at mental and physical well-being.
Discover FMF Campus and join our digital community!
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