Work-life balance services in coworking spaces and the impact of COVID-19 on them

What is it about?

This chapter aims to identify services that support coworkers’ work-life balance and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their offers. Interviews (N=18) and surveys (N=23) among managers in independently run CSs in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia were analysed. Five main categories of such services were defined: ‘social events’, ‘training and development activities’, ‘making work duties easier’, ‘creating a casual environment’, and ‘providing information’. Those are identifiable across all countries of interest in varying types and amounts, influenced by coworking size, characteristics and expectations of coworkers, and the attitudes and experiences of the owners. Additionally, the findings indicate that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the offered services by CSs and severely hindered the CSs role in interconnecting people.

Featured Image

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Balancing work and personal life was already an issue of some importance to many freelancers, micro-entrepreneurs, and employees long before the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. Nevertheless, as the pandemic has progressed, problems with balancing work and private life have become even more pressing for various professions across the globe.

Perspectives