Glossary A–ZLetter D
Desk sharing
Desk sharing is a way of organising workplaces in which employees have no fixed desk but share free places, often after booking them in advance.
It is used mainly where not everyone is in the office at the same time.
Screens support desk sharing in several places. An overview at the entrance to a floor shows which desks are free, booked or occupied, often as a floor plan with colours. Small displays at the desk or at groups of rooms make the occupancy visible on site. The data comes from the booking system, sometimes supplemented by sensors that detect whether a desk is actually being used.
Operators should decide whether the display shows names or only the status free or occupied. Names on a publicly visible overview reveal who is present and are often not needed. If sensors are used, this can turn into recording the presence of individual employees; the works council must then be involved and data protection checked.