Office, co-working — how about a Company Hub?
Headquarters used to make sense. Why not put your entire company in one building and have everyone clock in and out? But when remote work proved productive, it challenged the notion that each company needed its own office.
So co-working had its day. Droves of companies shared common spaces, ideas and the expensive overhead that comes with nice buildings.
But since the pandemic hit, sharing with strangers isn’t as enticing as it once was.
Design Pickle CEO Russ Perry and I found ourselves questioning how our company spaces could better support our teams. And in the process, we both founded our Company Hubs, albeit inadvertently.
When Trainual’s lease expired in May, our team started working from home while leadership contemplated next steps.
We talked about a new headquarters big enough for everyone to socially distance. But who wants to commit to a multiyear lease with so much uncertainty? And co-working was still an option but didn’t guarantee a safe working environment.
However, I knew not everyone was thriving working from home. So I opted for a new Company Hub. That way, my team could have options on where they worked.
Meanwhile, Design Pickle was slated to spend more than $100,000 on desks, call rooms and other furniture for its Scottsdale, Arizona, headquarters.
“We were bursting at the seams trying to cram our growing team into one office,” Perry said. “We had the mindset that everyone needed to be physically present.”
But Design Pickle paused its plans and overnight, everyone transitioned to remote. Despite this shift, Russ continues to see his company succeed. “I realized we had an irrational commitment to people coming to work,” he said.
But with its office still an expense, Russ figured there was no point letting it go to waste. So he opened the doors as a Company Hub that anyone on his team could use.
What exactly is a Company Hub?
A Company Hub is a company’s physical home — one where employees and customers can visit freely, connect and collaborate.
Similar to a headquarters, it’s a private space. Access is limited to those directly related to the company. But like co-working, there are no assigned desks or fixed schedules — meaning a Company Hub is used according to the company’s unique needs.
For Trainual, this looks like a 4,300square-foot facility in a centralized location. It’s spacious enough that 50% of our company can work there at a time without compromising social distancing. And it offers a retreat for team members struggling to work from home.
The benefits of a Company Hub combine years of workforce evolutions, accelerated by the impacts of COVID-19 and remote work. For the employee, a Company Hub:
Provides a home for the company and a place for team members to connect.
Has features and benefits, making it a destination.
Offers private and group work environments any time of day.
Promotes flexibility to balance the demands of life, outside the 9-to-5 window.
For the company, a Company Hub: Promotes the brand and company culture to stakeholders.
Is a safe and secure resource for the company and their immediate community.
Reduces infrastructure costs as the company grows.
Bridges a remote workforce with not-so-remote resources, such as space and support.
But there are some risks when starting a Company Hub. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the structure of a traditional headquarters. So if your company lacks accountability and clear expectations, your leadership team might feel insecure about the arrangement.
But these feelings are more a reflection of your company culture than how your team is handling a remote work environment.
Creating your own Company Hub
There’s no official playbook for starting a Company Hub. But here are five steps both companies took to make the transition:
Trust that a fully remote company can do the job as well, if not better, than your old model.
Make the announcement — you’re now 100% remote.
Create a safe, physical space that meets your remote team’s needs.
Use technology to keep your team aligned and accountable.
Know that no two Company Hubs are the same, so involve your team to make yours your own.
The future of work is remote. And Company Hubs allow your company to lean into it — while still supporting your team better than ever.