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Crisis prompts need for officing alternatives

By Jeff Zbar
Net.Worker, 09/24/01

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew damaged or destroyed thousands of square feet of office space throughout South Florida. In 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing did the same to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and surrounding properties.

This month, the terrorist attacks in New York City and the Pentagon not only destroyed more than 1 million square feet of office space, but also much of southern Manhattan was left without power and water.

Once it's time to get back to work after a disaster, the question becomes: Where is work?

Trends in alternative officing have opened the options to workers who find they have no office to return to. Hence the concept of telework is broadening to mean decentralized work, comments a telework consultant.

Options can include the use of:

Telework centers. These alternative office locations, often funded by the government, include private workstations, computers, broadband Internet access and dial-up modems, as well as an array of standard office technology, like copiers, printers, scanners, voicemail and a shared receptionist who can sign for packages and receive mail. Prices commonly start at around $50 per day, depending on the location and services offered.

Private business centers. Similar to telework centers, executive suites commonly are used by private businesses as satellite offices for salespeople or the primary office for a small business entrepreneur who cannot afford traditional space or who doesn't want to work from home. These offices feature the same office technology and services as telework centers, and often are centrally located in business districts.

Hoteling. Companies like Merrill Lynch have used the "hoteling" concept for years. Here, offices or cubicles are set up for use as needed by remote workers. The workers call several days in advance of their arrival to book a space. By the time they arrive, their phone extension has been transferred to the office; in some more formal instances, a rolling cart with their personal office belongings has been wheeled to the space as well.

Space sharing. Many larger companies have multiple facilities where workers who were left without offices can work. This may require doubling up workers in other workers' offices or cubicles, but as a temporary measure, it should be a temporary inconvenience. More desks and chairs will have to be purchased or leased, and telephone systems and wiring may have to be installed to accommodate additional workers.

Home officing. This is the most common remote office of the teleworker. With many homes now featuring some form of workspace, whether it's for the entrepreneur, teleworker or even just handling the family finances, it's not as much about creating the space as it is becoming accustomed to working from there.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, facilities managers and personnel managers will have to learn how to juggle space and reorganize schedules to efficiently to accommodate more workers, most notably in instances of hoteling and space sharing. For all involved - especially those organizations that haven't embraced telework in the past - alternative officing and telework can provide solutions to a space crunch, at least until more permanent space is found.

Jeff Zbar is an author and speaker on telework, free agency, and small or home office issues. His books include "Teleworking & Telecommuting: Strategies for Remote Workers & Their Managers" and "Safe @ Home: Seven Keys to Home Office Security". Jeff works from home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Questions or comments? Write him at jeff@chiefhomeofficer.com.

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