We expect the year’s coworking trends to cater to the evolving “new normal.”

Shortly after the pandemic hit, there were a lot of mixed messages and uncertainty regarding the state of coworking spaces. Could they survive the lockdowns? Would they later thrive as remote workers escape their home office? Nearly a year later, there’s one thing we know for sure: Shared workspaces are here to stay. That triumph aside, coworking in 2021 will look a bit different than it did pre-Covid.

It’s no secret that shared workspaces were hit hard by the pandemic. Some shut their doors, and many are still struggling. Here at VIDA Coworking in Portland, OR, we’re excited about 2021. Last year, we learned a lot. We changed a lot, too. And 2021 will be a cumulation of all that. Since coworking is what we do, we have a uniquely up-close view into the latest coworking trends. Here what we expect to see.   

Coworking is Making a Comeback

Unsurprisingly, when the pandemic hit, coworking saw a drop in membership. The workspaces were forced to close, and everyone had to stay home. Kitchen tables, sofas, even closets became makeshift offices. Now roughly a year into this new life of ours, people are realizing those work environments aren’t comfortable or sustainable. So, more and more people are joining or rejoining their local coworking spaces. At VIDA, our own membership numbers are on the rise. That said, we don’t expect to exceed pre-pandemic numbers until later in 2021 or early next year.

Health & Safety Will Remain Priority No. 1

We get it: Many people are still hesitant about working indoors with other people. So, it’s the responsibility of coworking operators to ease that concern and live up to it. VIDA has vigorous health and cleanliness practices, including daily cleaning and required masks. Safety is also physically built into our office set-up. We have 15 private offices as well as 20 dedicated desks with eight feet of space between them. What’s amazing is that everyone wants to keep using the office, so they willingly protect it by following the health and safety precautions.

Part-Time Memberships Will Gain Popularity

We predict part-time memberships will be one of the biggest trends for coworking in 2021. This model typically includes being in the workspace 2-3 days a week and at home the rest of the week. In fact, a lot of our Members, especially parents, were doing this even before Covid. We find that many Members come to VIDA a few days a week to focus on big-picture, strategic stuff so they won’t be interrupted at home. Simply put, the part-time membership offers more flexibility in managing work and home life.

Flexible Memberships Will Take a Hiatus

A flex membership is one that allows Members to come in whenever they want. It also allows them to sit wherever they want. This option was amazing pre-pandemic but not so much anymore. Due to social distancing, flexible memberships will become far more limited or non-existent, as they currently are at VIDA.

Amenities Will Better Cater to Members’ Needs

Before the pandemic, people joined shared workspaces to be a part of a community and have access to cool amenities. They wanted their office to enhance and add to their lives. Today, people don’t focus on having a huge swath of amenities at their disposal. Instead, there are a few key ones they lean on.

Childcare is a biggie, especially since so many kids are still doing virtual learning. At VIDA, we have a dedicated kids’ area, which is perfect for creating separation but also allows kids to focus on their schooling while being supervised.

We’ve also learned from our Members that they’d like more help getting their job done. So, we launched VIDA Business Services that acts as a virtual office assistant to Members. It can help with everything from business consulting to administrative work.

In many ways, health and wellness will remain important but in the virtual world. So, we launch a ton of fitness videos and podcasts so Members can do a workout and meditate at home. For coworking spaces like VIDA that have a dedicated fitness studio, that looks different as well. Now a sweat sesh is private and on a reservation system (which is doubly helpful because it’s then built into the Member’s calendar, motivating him/her to get the workout in!).

Coworking Will Appeal to More Remote Workers

Today, 2-3x more of our new Members are employees of big companies that closed their traditional offices. We’re also seeing an increase in entrepreneur Members as people experienced a life shift as a result of Covid. Some lost their previous job or decided they needed a change, so they’re going off on their own and want a work environment that can help them succeed.

Overall, we see coworking in 2021 to be an extremely promising opportunity for remote workers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. Shared work spaces have a lot to offer, especially if they’ve evolved and optimized throughout this past year. We’ve accomplished some really positive and creative things to keep Members pleased and propelling forward.

Looking back, VIDA’s original mission was all about marrying coworking and childcare. Our goal was to make life work better for working parents. We still want that today, but we’ve expanded how we do so. Thanks to Covid, we support members’ lives in so many more ways. Our impact today feels far greater as a result.

Interested in joining VIDA Coworking? Contact us today for a tour!