The office of the future is here, and it’s called a co-working space. It is a place where remote workers, independent professionals, freelancers, startups and IT firms work together in a shared, communal setting.
It shepherds the next-generation of workers into a new culture of productivity—a “thriving work environment” with productivity levels at an average of 6 on a 7-point scale, a point higher than the average employee who works in a regular office, according to a report by the Harvard Business Review.
Workers thrive there because co-working spaces accommodate a workforce coming from a wide range of different companies, hence there is little or no direct competition among them, and they do not have to deal with internal politics to move up.
It’s a nerve center full of people doing projects they actually care about, whether because it’s financially or intellectually rewarding. In a co-working space, people tend to help each other out.
Work Folk, a co-working space in the heart of Makati, redefines co-working spaces by throwing in elements of service and hospitality for clients. Since it opened August last year, Work Folk has consistently had an average of 98 percent occupancy.
Managed by Hospitality Innovators Inc. (HII), Work Folk is run by people with a two-decade track record. HII manages, among others, The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, KL Serviced Residences, Y2 Residence Hotel, Azumi Boutique Hotel, Parque España Residence Hotel, and Hue Hotels and Resorts in Puerto Princesa and Boracay.
Conducive and professional
“Instead of going to noisy cafés to work, people who don’t have a physical office now have the option to work in a space with a much more conducive professional atmosphere, where they can work the whole day and network with clients,” said Shirley Marie P. Santos, community head of Work Folk.
Modern industrial interiors, open spaces and the latest technological office tools guarantee clients a peaceful and productive work environment.
Work Folk provides high-speed internet (100 Mbps), personalized packages, services and spaces. It is fully stocked with office supplies that are free to use, such as printers and paper, and an unlimited supply of free coffee, tea and water. Clients are even welcome to use WF’s address as their business address, making their businesses instantly look legit, Santos said.
There are co-working spaces (open desks) available to rent from as short as three hours to half a day, to a full week and a month, in an area that can comfortably accommodate 35 people. There are also three private offices and 15 dedicated desk spaces, an office to share with three other people (with free locker rentals and three hours of meeting room use per month included in the package).
For small businesses
Co-working spaces appeal to small businesses and startups that do not want to worry about running an actual office, ideal for those looking to expand their businesses. For groups or teams requiring a minimum of four seats, there is Work Folk’s Private Offices, a furnished room with desks, chairs and mobile pedestals; some even come with a view.
Private Office members have access to their workspace 24/7 through a door access code. They can also enjoy 10 hours of meeting-room use free of charge each month. All these, sans the costly utility bills and association dues.
“Today, there is a demand for flexibility,” said Santos. “Traditional offices require people to rent an office with a long-term lease. That won’t be easy if you’re starting out or on a budget. We can allow you to rent a space for a month, three months or six months.”
Work Folk also provides an events venue for the community to organize or attend talks, workshops and seminars to enhance skills further.
Work Folk, 9/F, M1 Tower, 141 HV de la Costa St., Salcedo Village, Makati City; tel. nos. 403-8143, (0917) 521-2202; www.workfolk.ph