Hot desking has become something of a buzzword in post-pandemic UK office life. With hybrid working firmly established in many organisations, the idea of ditching permanent desks in favour of a “find a space and plug in” approach seems logical — at least on paper. It promises flexibility, efficiency, and cost savings. But what does it actually do to productivity and morale?
The short answer? It’s complicated.
A Flexible Fix – Or a Daily Hassle?
Let’s start with the intention behind hot desking. For employers, it’s a practical response to fluctuating office attendance. With fewer people in the office on any given day, maintaining a desk for everyone starts to look wasteful. Hot desking lets companies shrink their real estate footprint, saving money on space, furniture, and overheads.
It also supports agility. Teams that shift regularly, or work project-to-project, benefit from fluid seating. Employees can sit with whoever they’re collaborating with that week. And in theory, the mix of people encourages fresh conversations, cross-departmental ideas, and a break from office silos.
But theory doesn’t always match practice. For many office workers, hot desking introduces a daily layer of hassle — hunting for a free desk, adjusting equipment that’s never quite right, and never feeling fully “at home.”
That’s before we get to the dreaded desk drought. On peak office days, not having enough desks to go round can lead to frustration, wasted time, and people working wherever they can squeeze in — not exactly a productivity booster.
Productivity: Boosted or Blunted?
On the one hand, hot desking can promote tidier, more professional environments. Without personal clutter building up, offices can feel cleaner and more modern. And when the system works — with easy booking tools and task-appropriate zones — employees can choose spaces that suit the work they’re doing that day.
But that’s a big if. In many offices, hot desking leads to lost time and lowered focus. Employees spend precious minutes logging in, setting up, and adjusting unfamiliar equipment. Technical glitches, awkward seating, or poor ergonomics can slow them down or even cause physical discomfort. And the lack of a consistent space can quietly chip away at concentration. For some, it feels like working out of a suitcase, every day.
The environment itself plays a role too. Open-plan hot-desking floors are often noisier and more distracting, especially when people are coming and going. And while the system might encourage chance chats, it can also make it harder to find — or stay near — your actual team. Collaboration is great, but only when the conditions support it.
The Morale Trade-Off
Perhaps the biggest hit comes to morale. Many employees miss having a personal space — somewhere to stick a photo, stash a snack, or keep a favourite mug. That small square of familiarity offers more than convenience; it creates a sense of belonging.
Hot desking removes that. It can feel transient, anonymous, even competitive. People rush in early to nab the “good” spots. Disputes arise over bookings or desks mysteriously “reserved” with jackets. And the absence of a fixed team space can lead to a subtle feeling of disconnection.
Even the human element takes a knock. With no consistent neighbours, building deeper work friendships becomes harder. Some thrive in the variety, but for others — particularly new starters or more introverted employees — it adds to feelings of isolation.
And let’s not forget hygiene. Sharing equipment daily, especially post-Covid, raises concerns. If desks aren’t cleaned between users, or if hand sanitiser and wipes are missing, unease quickly sets in.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Surveys consistently show that UK employees lean towards fixed desks. In one recent study, over half believed hot desking made them less productive. The preference for personal space isn’t generational either — even younger workers value having a desk to call their own.
Yet many companies persist with hot desking, swayed by the cost argument. And to be fair, the model can work — if it’s done with people in mind.
That means more than just rolling out a desk-booking app and calling it a day. It means making sure there are enough desks, every day. It means giving people high-quality, comfortable furniture and equipment they can adjust easily. It means creating quiet areas for focused work, collaborative zones for teamwork, and private spaces for calls or deep thinking.
It also means offering decent storage — so people aren’t lugging laptops, cables, and notepads across town every morning. And perhaps most importantly, it means keeping communication strong and checking in regularly. People need to feel supported, seen, and part of a team — whether they sit in the same place or not.
Final Thoughts
Hot desking isn’t inherently bad. In the right workplace, with the right setup, it can offer flexibility, encourage collaboration, and cut costs. But in many UK offices, the reality doesn’t match the promise. Productivity suffers, morale takes a dip, and the office starts to feel more like a co-working space than a community.
The key is balance. A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. If hot desking is here to stay, then it needs to be designed with the people who use it — not just around them.
