Apr 14, 2025 - 5 min. reading time

From "my desk" to "a desk" -
to "no desk"?

A recent study by the Institute for Work and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance provides an insight into the shortcomings in the implementation of desk sharing - the new standard for future-oriented offices - that cannot be ignored.

About the experiences of employees and managers and why the companies surveyed need a solution like Thing-it.

By Vanessa Meiẞner

Hybrid work is here to stay! But a hybrid approach requires offices to be more flexible and efficient. Desk sharing is rightly an increasingly popular model for dealing with hybrid change. The advantages are obvious:

Desk sharing enables flexible and efficient use of office space
There is no denying the potential for economic benefits due to space savings
Employee productivity and satisfaction can also be significantly increased

In practice, the numerous implementation concepts and supporting tools on the market are accompanied by at least as many challenges and gaps in these supposed solutions.

The findings of the study:

The study "Desk Sharing: Survey on mental stress, strain and stress consequences" (IAG) examines the experiences of employees and managers with the desk sharing model. It shows that the holistic and needs-oriented nature of the solutions applied often falls short.

Two fundamental problems in particular are emphasized:

There is no booking system for the efficient management of the spaces that are now to be shared
The number of jobs does not match the demand

In addition, there are other findings that do not flatter the application of the desk sharing model in the companies surveyed.

Satisfaction: Although almost 60% of respondents are satisfied with the desk sharing model, 47.6% would prefer a permanent workplace.

Productivity: half of those surveyed consider this to be unaffected, while just under 30% experience a negative influence and only 20% a positive influence.

Health: 60% of respondents did not experience any impact on their health from desk sharing, just under a quarter experienced a negative impact and only 15% a positive impact. The volume factor in particular was cited as a problem.

With years of practical experience from working with numerous large companies, we are aware of these challenges in the practical implementation of the desk sharing concept. At the same time, however, we are convinced that we can offer a solution to all of these problems. We have recognized this: It is not the desk sharing model itself that is the problem. The reason for the deficits described in the companies surveyed is the lack of a holistically conceived and needs-oriented practical implementation as well as a flexible and supportive system.

With the only all-in-one platform on the market, Thing-it offers exactly the solutions that companies need to fully exploit the real potential of desk sharing: from increased productivity and employee satisfaction to cost reduction and lower emissions.

In short: We listen, analyze the specific needs and offer exactly the solution that meets the challenges of the practical implementation of the desk sharing model.

The missing booking system? With us you enjoy a comprehensive Booking+!

Thing-it offers the only all-in-one platform on the market that provides comprehensive Booking+. Smart features complement the comprehensive booking functions and ensure a perfect user experience, a balance between space efficiency and employee satisfaction and an increase in employee productivity.

Integration into your familiar Office365 environment makes room booking intuitive and avoids complicating workflows.

Planning office space without knowing the actual occupancy rate and thus the demand is a guessing game that can hardly lead to efficient space utilization! We therefore rely on sensor-based data to help you dynamically develop your suitable right-sizing concept and continuously optimize it based on reliable data. This allows you to find the right balance between space efficiency and workplace experience.

Increased satisfaction? With Thing-it included!

On the one hand, the sensor data we provide forms the perfect basis for well-founded decisions that allow office space design to be adapted to actual requirements. In many cases, additional booking work for employees can even be avoided. On the other hand, numerous customizable add-ins and the intuitive user interface of our all-in-one app complement the advantages of the booking system to create an optimal workplace experience.

Productivity? Get the most out of it with Thing-it!

Find instead of search! With the Thing-it app's orientation and navigation function, employees are spared the frustration of searching for specific rooms, printers, lockers or other points of interest. When booking a workstation, employees can immediately see which of their favorite colleagues have already booked seats and where they will be sitting - of course only if this transparency is desired. This increases motivation to come into the office to work despite the home office option. If employees come into the office several times a week, they can simply mark a workstation as a favorite. This eliminates the need to search and meets the needs of the 50% of study participants who prefer a fixed workplace. With our solutions, we can therefore ensure that productivity is not negatively affected - on the contrary!

A needs-oriented and modern, efficient office concept promotes productivity - whether spontaneously together in a meeting room or concentrated at a pre-booked favorite desk.

Health: a question of concept!

Potential problem factors, such as unpleasant noise levels, must already be taken into account in the space concept. The existing conditions can be used in the best possible way through intelligent space planning. The basis for this is also the sensor-based usage analysis, which makes the specific requirements visible and manageable.

One thing is clear: Hybrid working models make desk sharing unavoidable. However, in order to utilize the full potential of the model, a holistic solution is required. We at Thing-it are happy to help you implement exactly that!

We are interested in your experiences and also your challenges in using the desk sharing model. Contact us and let's find a solution together!