To say that this year has been crucial for remote work is a grand understatement. From an interesting benefit and an eye-catching gimmick within job offers, it has become a standard in many companies all around the world. Such a radical and fast-paced change may be counted as one of the very few good things that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the thing about quick changes is as follows - when going somewhere in a hurry we do get there faster, but we are also less prepared than if we would take our time.

And the same goes for remote work - here it is in all of its glory, with insufficient laws, lack of proper training and plenty of other smaller and bigger problems.

In order to identify the current situation of remote work, Buffer and AngelList once again conducted their annual study about the state of the remote work. Among many valuable pieces of insight, we can see clear indicators that remote work, albeit unrefined and still nascent, is becoming very popular - both employees and employers are quite fond of it. But it still has some flaws and remote workers have to face some daily struggles.

[video src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/AYKv7lXcZSJig/giphy.mp4?cid=e2a3cbdezh0po5684cfmnuwr1ax2l9bp0lbhsxpf26c0eod3&rid=giphy.mp4" autoplay="on" loop="on"]

One of those struggles is loneliness - 20% of answers listed it as a serious challenge that remote workers have to deal with. The source is quite understandable – a vast majority of remote workers nowadays, have been sent home not by choice but because of the necessity of the times we are living in. One moment they are in their office enjoying coffee breaks with their friends, chatting, laughing and generally appreciating this usual buzz that is part of office work... And suddenly they were all sent home, away from their colleagues and confined to their houses and flats. When we look at it like this, there's no surprise that remote workers may struggle with loneliness.

The question is - how do we deal with it?

One possible solution is called a "co-working space" - the idea of remote workers meeting in a shared office, sometimes even located in cafeterias or restaurants. Such a possibility, while grasping the proper way of thinking, is still quite flawed - coworking spaces are located in major hubs of major cities, contain many people and incur high operational costs, which burden the user - especially now, when, due to the COVID pandemic, more and more cities are experiencing an exodus of inhabitants. People moving out of big cities, willing to quit the so called “rat race”, clocking in and out of their timesheets is becoming reality. Anyway, even if being out of office spaces, remote workers desperately seek contact with other people. Let’s face it – working from home is not really natural and doesn’t fit everyone’s needs and it’s also not a long-term solution. Zoom fatigue is real and using more and more virtual communication tools isn’t the solution. Here the question arises – what can we possibly do to feel connected with people while avoiding commuting to office spaces located downtown or accessing co-working spaces as their number is still limited, located where people used to work, as opposed to where people live? When I evaluated all the options myself, it seemed to me like I needed a quick, flexible solution... And then Gable came along.

Gable and a different way of coworking

Gable is a company with an idea that refines the concept of coworking - they take flats, homes and unutilized spaces and recreate them into perfect places for work. All spaces have office grade amenities and the Gable team can easily roll out more spaces, based on your needs. Of course, you can argue that coworking spaces were a thing before - but there were few and quite pricey, which left those without much funds without any opportunity to socialize. On the other hand, cafeterias and restaurants are still available but they often lack a good internet connection or sockets and are also time-limited - no place will allow you to stay for the whole day… How much coffee or food would you need to order to secure your daily spot??? The answer is: too much and it’s nonsense.

[video src="https://media3.giphy.com/media/xUPOquVrctFBwtd3QQ/giphy.mp4?cid=e2a3cbdez88ywpjsgv6q0d5j8rb98wuf0mfqen8zty7cc53j&rid=giphy.mp4" autoplay="on" loop="on"]

That is why Gable is allowing you to both become a host and offer up your space as a workplace and to rent a space for your team during remote work. You don't have to worry about the new place being unprepared for work – the owners of Gable are remote workers themselves and they are fully aware that, while good company is crucial to achieve a proper working experience, a fast internet connection and a comfy chair also come handy…

Everyone can benefit from this arrangement - employees can work in small teams of trusted friends and professionals and employers can make sure that their teams have a properly prepared space with all the utilities needed to fulfil their duties. Looking at it from a different angle, you can either rent a place handpicked by you so it suits your needs, or you can rent your place and earn a passive income for helping others work. It is a win-win solution for everyone!

The more, the merrier

The idea that Gable has introduced to the market may very well be a start of a new revolution. The truth is, we need other people. Even the most hardwired introverts among us cannot sit alone forever. The company of others is necessary for our mental health and good mood, and those, of course, are not only needed to be productive - they are also essential when thinking about a good-quality life in general. Not only that, but Gable's workspaces are also a great chance to meet completely new people and change scenery - to form new bonds, exchange ideas and boost our creativity with a healthy dose of brainstorming. All in all, we may have found a solution to one of the most painful problems that remote work may have caused. So how about you? Ready to join Gable?

Did you get inspired? I'm sure yes. Make sure to follow Gable on Facebook and LinkedIn...and stay tuned for more soon!