Building a Community of Remote Workers

Coworking spaces are becoming more and more popular as remote work becomes a more common employment style. An estimated 32.6 million Americans will work remotely by 2025, and many will look for work settings that resemble offices to lessen isolation. Coworking facilities provide a community coworking space, which satisfies this need. 

Unfortunately, a lot of these venues are finding it difficult to stay profitable due to their extremely high real estate costs. This can drive up membership fees as well, which can range from $200 to $700 per desk. Members are also complaining that they don’t feel that the social environment at these spaces is reaching their expectations. Only about 70% of members say they have any friendships outside of their immediate coworkers. 

Rather than renting a fixed location, a new wave of coworking spaces is using flexible methods to repurpose unused areas like bars, restaurants, and hotels. This strategy can reduce operational costs by up to 75%, making memberships cheaper. These creative places put a stronger emphasis on creating a lively social environment by hosting frequent gatherings for members such as happy hours and communal lunches. Their goal is to foster a strong sense of community among their remote working members.

​Coworking Spaces in NYC
Source: Tavern Community