Is Coworking The Next Stage of Telecommuting?
CNN thinks that it is.
Are the coworkers returning to the traditional office setting? Not on your life!
Instead, the coworkers are headed to central locations with officelike environments. Driven by isolation and the need to interact with others, some telecommuters are embracing coworking as way to overcome feelings of isolation and benefit from the camaraderie of an office-type environment.
Wikipedia describes coworking, in part, as a gathering of people "who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented peoople in the same space."
I'm not sure if coworking is the next stage of telecommuting, but there's clearly a movement among those who work-at-home towards increased interaction with others. There's even a Coworking Wiki online for developers!
When I read the CNN article, the first thing that came to my mind is something my dad used to say about work: "work is the social glue of society."
My dad told me that when I was a teenager, and then went on to explain that work was more than just a means of earning money - work also provided opportunities for healthy social interaction and for giving something back. At the very least, he said, work could provide structure to your life.
Although I haven't forgotten what my dad said, I really haven't suffered much from loneliness since I've started working from home. However, I think that is because I've maintained my connections with other people: both through friendships and work relationships that I already had and by making new friends and colleagues through the Internet.
I do know that working from home can lead to feelings of isolation for some.
Would I switch to a coworking arrangement?
Honestly, right now, it doesn't appeal to me. I can get peer interaction online or by phone, if I need it. My life is pretty hectic and adding a commute, even if it was a short one, would make it worse.
What about you? Do you telecommute or work from home and cowork right now? Would you?
Leave a comment and let us know.
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I don't co-work for the majority of my work week. However, a few WAHMs that I know have recently started working in the same place for a few hours a week. I like it. It's a change of pace for me. That said, I wouldn't want to do it more often than once a week. I like working from my house for a reason (working in my pjs would, of course, be that reason).
Posted by: jen | April 8, 2008 11:43 AM | Permalink to Comment