Work from home, have meetings at restaurants – the new normal?

With the world changing and companies moving from static office spaces to working remotely, meetings have predominantly been held online. However, meeting in person still holds a lot of value.

As a result, some companies have opted for meeting at varying locations, such as restaurants or hotel conference rooms. We found out what this new reality looks like.  

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A new blueprint for doing business

According to Michael Field, COO of Fedgroup, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many businesses have been able to continue operations by working remotely.

“They have been able to do this either completely or partially through conference calls and emails, not to mention other creative solutions that rely on the latest technology,” says Field.

“Of course, many businesses, such as manufacturing plants, still rely on most of the staff being physically present. But for those who have seen few adverse effects – and perhaps even some advantages – resulting from remote work, this new normal could offer a new blueprint for the business,” he explains.

What does this look like?

Field points out that productivity may have improved under these circumstances, and that working from home is different for many people.

“A different mindset is a requirement, especially when not all of us have a designated area that can be used as an office space. Most people are working from their dining room tables or kitchen countertops or sharing a workspace with a spouse or partner,” says Field.

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“With this in mind, it's not surprising that a lot of people developing start-up businesses and staff getting back to the 'new normal' would opt to work from a restaurant, instead of travelling all the way to the office,” he adds.

Field believes that since most restaurants offer free Wi-Fi to patrons, these new working options eliminate household distractions and time wasted sitting in traffic.

The reality of alternative meeting spaces

According to Nevo Hadas, director at dY/dX, an organisation that assists clients to become digitally savvy, there will be growth in finding meeting spaces versus a fixed office.

“Some restaurants offer private meeting rooms but this is still more common with hotels or conference centres, or for private dining,” says Hadas.

He explains that in Europe there are coffee shops that have booths and meeting rooms paid for by the hour, which include free coffee and snacks – turning the model on its head. 

However, he points out that some businesses would fear that customers think they’re too small to engage with, or that the experience may not be professional.

“But these expectations may change very quickly as customers may prefer meeting closer to where they live versus having to travel to a meeting,” says Hadas.

READ MORE: Are employers responsible for work-from-home costs?

However, from the perspective of restaurant owners, Field warns that this might not be a sustainable movement.

“As much as they are happy to have people working on their premises, they also need to consider whether this creates a welcoming environment for other patrons. They'll likely clamp down on it if it starts to threaten their business model,” says Field.

A new environment is developing

Field says that just as changing work regimes could change the way our cities look, so changing living arrangements might change the way we view work.

He believes that if you can work remotely and live in an area where the cost of living is lower, then your quality of life will be higher, and even the air quality will be better.

“Your view of the perfect job may well shift from only focusing on the financial gain to finding something that is truly fulfilling,” says Field.

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