Perspectives on the Future of Work: April 4

Upwork’s weekly column brings you the latest news on hiring and working with freelancers, freelancing, and the future of work.

Week of 04/04/2016:

Yahoo! Finance | These startups want to put an end to crowded offices

“Where you work—and how you work—is changing faster than you think,” explained finance reporter Melody Hahm. As smaller companies proliferate, there is an increasing need for affordable, low-commitment office space. For many of them, coworking is the answer.

This shift toward coworking spaces isn’t just for tech startups, either. All kinds of small businesses can benefit from shared space arrangements, including solopreneurs, freelancers, and consultants.

“To skeptics who might think this is a passing trend for 20- and 30-somethings in hot markets like New York and San Francisco, keep this in mind,” Hahm said. “The demand for office space will continue to outpace supply across the U.S., according to the latest PwC survey, and pushing [sic] up rent prices in secondary markets like Nashville and Austin as well.”

Good Hire | How HR Can Capitalize on a Blended Workforce

The rise of the digital economy, explains Lauren Small, has “provided the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs and freelancers to work in highly specialized fields with more flexibility” as free agents.  This increase means that companies can consider a broader mix of options: “in other words, a blended-workforce,” said Lauren Small, a technology writer for Good Hire. And more businesses are moving in that direction: One-third of companies in a recent Accenture survey reported “they are increasingly relying on contracted staff in addition to full-time employees.”

Blended workforces help with both talent and bottom-line needs. Freelancers can be lifesavers when helping with special projects, seasonal needs, or during a company’s bootstrapping or high-growth phase.

Freelancers also help cut costs.”Freelancers and some contract employees are paid project by project, so there’s no annual salary. Many freelancers work from home as well, reducing the need for additional office space.”  But they can also increase legal costs as companies figure out how to classify and work with their new blended workforce in a compliant way.

“With a clear strategy in place, you can use a blended workforce to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and take advantage of top talent,” she concluded.

What changes in the workplace have caught your attention recently? Tell us about them in the comments below!

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