I’ve been working from home for most of my adult life, so I know that it can sometimes make you feel like you’re stranded on an island, population of one. Less frenetic than your neighborhood coffee shop but more comfortable than the library, a coworking space can give you the change of scenery you may need to be productive and the opportunity to actually see other humans outside of a Zoom window.
But as with all communities, coworking spaces have social guidelines to follow—sometimes written but often merely implied—if you want to avoid angry stares or a tap on the shoulder from the manager. So we’ve asked several longtime patrons of such spaces to share etiquette rules that contribute to a pleasant environment for everyone.
The TL;DR is, unsurprisingly, to be considerate of others. But the reality can be more nuanced than that. Some of the following bits of advice might sound strange as concepts that need to be enforced, but people commit all sorts of faux pas every day at coworking spaces and in other open-plan offices. It’s a difficult line to walk, because while a coworking space can feel like your home away from home—and it’s a place you actually pay to go to—you’re a worker there, not just a customer.
1. Step away for phone calls
“Don’t take a call of more than one to two minutes out loud in a shared space,” says Kevin Purdy, a co-founder of CoWork Buffalo and a former Wirecutter senior staff writer who covered the remote-work beat. (Even a one-minute call could be deeply frowned upon at some places.)
Nothing is more distracting than hearing 50% of other people’s conversations, he explains, because your brain will leap at the opportunity to fill in the gap rather than focus on the work in front of you. Calls and video meetings are for the dedicated call room or booth, or outdoors.
2. Crunch with permission
It’s not just talking that can break concentration—crunchy snacks are focus-stealers too. Andra Rosten, head of support at Change.org, says that a soft rule at the coworking space where she rents a desk in a shared office is to ask permission from those around you before digging into chips or pretzels.
“Also, no fish in the microwave,” she adds.
3. Don’t rearrange the furniture
This one surprised me. At Rosten’s coworking space, one member moved their desk to take up more room. The manager had to chat with the offender to put the desk back in its designated spot.
4. Stick to the seat-reservation policy
If you don’t have a dedicated desk, which typically costs more than an open desk in a shared space, abide by the seat-reservation policy. (You wouldn’t steal someone’s airplane seat, right?)
If the space has no reservation system, be prepared to sit anywhere, Purdy advises. “Some things haven’t changed since high school,” he says. “Seat-saving and seat maneuvering are still stressful and can be somewhat rude.”
5. Clean up after yourself
It’s common sense, but “there’s always someone who doesn’t follow this tacit rule,” says Matthew Guay, co-founder of writing consultancy Pith and Pip. Remember to be courteous: Throw away your trash, return shared items such as scissors and staplers after using them, and return and wash shared cooking and eating items to the kitchen, if the space has one.
Also, don’t expect unlabeled food to stay in the fridge forever. “This is the constant battle of coworking spaces—food that’s left and forgotten and getting moldy,” Guay says. (If you’ve ever worked in a typical office, you know that’s true for those environments too.)
6. Don’t hog resources
If you have lots of devices, try to charge them individually or unplug them once they’re fully charged, says Wirecutter senior staff writer Sarah Witman, who works from a coworking space a few days a week. This way, outlets will be available for others. If you have to charge a lot of devices, consider bringing your own power strip so that you occupy only one outlet.
In a similar vein, if the phone booths are in high demand, use them only for necessary calls. “Don’t sweat it if your plans change,” says Maria Casanova, global community strategy director at WeWork. “But be sure to cancel your room booking if you no longer need it, and free up phone booths after your calls.”
And if you know that you’re going to have a phone-heavy schedule, perhaps just don’t go to the coworking space that day.
7. Be friendly
Coworking spaces are collaborative by design, and they can be a great place to meet like-minded people. Make the most of opportunities such as community events, and introduce yourself to your desk neighbor if you feel comfortable doing so, says Casanova.
Offer to help people out with work, directions, and recommendations when you’re in the social areas, too, and—as in any office or coffee shop—expect those kinds of distractions to come up every now and then.
8. Read the room
Remember that, first and foremost, coworking spaces are for work.
Be aware that not everyone may be comfortable striking up a conversation. One universal rule for coworking spaces is to avoid disturbing people who are obviously focused, which they may signal by wearing headphones.
And while you don’t have to wear your best business attire, avoid wearing clothing with even mildly offensive branding, or T-shirts or hoodies with edgy imagery.
As for taking naps, it’s probably best to save those for when you can work from home. No one wants to work surrounded by sleeping bodies.
This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.
Sources
- Kevin Purdy, co-founder of CoWork Buffalo and a former Wirecutter senior staff writer, Slack interview, October 24, 2023
- Maria Casanova, global community strategy director at WeWork, email interview, October 27, 2023
