Coworking Spaces and Well-Being: An Empirical Investigation of Coworkers in Italy

ABSTRACT

In the era of rising globalization, technological advancements (e.g., ICT), and the aftermath of the 2008 global economic crisis, working is becoming less dependent on distance, time, and space. With the increasing number of freelance and independent workers, more flexible working styles are emerging. The present paper aims to study the effect of coworking spaces (CSs) on coworkers’ (CWs) level of well-being and life satisfaction; in other words, to explore the factors that may affect their well-being at such flexible, collaborative workplaces. To conduct an empirical study, we sent an online questionnaire to the CWs working in 549 CSs in Italy; 324 coworkers responded to the survey (as of January 2018). By means of descriptive statistics and econometric analyses, the paper discusses some of the main factors affecting CWs’ perceived well-being: social proximity and sense of community (trust and new friendship), organizational proximity, and the positive effects of CSs on the urban context; on the other hand, gender, educational level, age and revenues growth do not show any impact. The paper concludes by suggesting possible policy implications and introducing further research lines.

KEYWORDS:

• Coworking spaces
• coworkers
• well-being
• community
• proximity measures

JEL CODES:

• I31
• R1

Additional information

Funding

This study has been funded by the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano—FARB 2016; the project “New Working Spaces: Promises of Innovations, Effects on the Economic and Urban Context” explores new workplaces, coworking spaces, and makers spaces in Italy (2017–2019).

Notes on contributors

Mina Akhavan

Mina Akhavan is a postdoctoral research fellow and adjunct professor in the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies at Politecnico di Milano. She is member of the management committee and Group Leader of the European Cost Action 18214 “The Geography of New Working Spaces and the Impact on the Periphery” (2019-2023). She is winner of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 and will be hosted at TU Delft.

Ilaria Mariotti

Ilaria Mariottii is associate professor of urban and regional economics at DAStU, Politecnico di Milano (IT). She is member of the Urban Planning, Design and Policy Ph.D Program at Politecnico di Milano. She is Chair and Grant Manager of the Cost Action 18214 “The Geography of New Working Spaces and the Impact on the Periphery” (2019-2023), and Project coordinator for the Politecnico di Milano team of the CORAL “Exploring the impacts of collaborative workspaces in rural and peripheral areas in the EU” Project, Horizon 2020 - Marie Curie -ITN-2020 (2021-2024).