From happier employees to revitalized neighborhoods, coworking is proving to be a winning strategy for freelancers and enterprises of all sizes and the communities where they live and work. Our new white paper has the details.
By Chris Smith, Chief Revenue Officer, THRIVE | Coworking
Doom loops and downward spirals.
There’s been no shortage of media coverage on the tsunami effect that the COVID-19 pandemic had on metropolitan downtowns and commercial real estate. From New York City to San Francisco, the changes have been shocking to see, with Moody’s reporting the national office vacancy rate at near record levels.
But there’s a flip side to the story that hasn’t been getting nearly as much attention. As the workforce has retreated from big-city downtowns, smaller markets and suburban areas have become revitalized. Work-from-home (WFH) has led to a dramatic shift in the economy: A large part of the economic engine and heartbeat of America has moved from the grand glass-and-steel canyons of our marquee cities to the friendly environs of hometown USA. We take a deep dive in our white paper, The Power of the Hybrid Economy.
WFH quickly presented its own challenges, though, from wonky Wi-Fi to distractions from kids and chores. It also meant workers were missing out on mentorship and learning opportunities. But more importantly it intensified a deadly epidemic of loneliness and isolation. It’s a problem so critical that the US Surgeon General released an advisory calling attention to its impacts, ranking it alongside other public health menaces like tobacco, obesity and substance-use disorders.
For an increasing number of enterprises, coworking offices have provided the antidote. With access to professional work environments like THRIVE | Coworking, businesses have been creating remote-work hubs in the places where their employees actually live, harnessing the best of both the traditional work model and the hybrid lifestyle. A branded, custom space that allows for connection, camaraderie and mentorship — all without the commute.
And the plusses, as you can see in our white paper, are impressive, from booming local economies to happy, engaged employees. So yes, it’s easy to get tangled up in news about loops and spirals. But we believe that by focusing on smaller markets, THRIVE has the right development model, the right culture, the right philosophy to straighten out those loops and spirals. We have the working solution.
