‘Third place working” is the new employment buzzword in the post-COVID-19 corporate world, with hospitality venues joining the office and home as hubs of productivity.

Cafes are the preferred third place work venues, but participants also use libraries, pubs, parks, and coworking spaces.

Tapping into the trend, me&u and employee experience platform Third Place have announced national #WFHospoWeek, a new initiative calling upon Aussie workers to trade the solitude of working from home for the buzz of their local hospitality venue to enhance their mental health, overall wellbeing and productivity. 

From October 16-20, hospo venues will open their doors to Australian workers with new work spaces and worker-friendly food and drinks specials, so Aussies can trade the isolation of working from home for the vibrant atmosphere of ‘working from hospo’ at their favourite venue. 

Nine-to-five-ers, flexible and remote workers will be able to set up their laptops at over a thousand venues across Australia’s cities and regional areas, including: 

• Sydney’s Republic Hotel, who will be fuelling guests with a limited-edition breakfast menu, including cured salmon with whipped ricotta, avo on toast, bacon & egg roll and jamon and gruyere panini, alongside a range of beverages including coffee, tea and freshly pressed juices. In Republic Dining, a lunch special of pan fried snapper fillet with ratatouille and sage beurre blanc will be available during #WFHospoWeek. The venue will also open their newly renovated boardroom space for bookings via Third Place. 
• Melbourne’s Boatbuilder’s Yard, who will be welcoming workers to enjoy breaky with a view at Melbourne’s South Wharf waterfront, serving up a $20 breakfast of champions special, including eggs any way, toast, a side of choice and a coffee. 
• Brisbane’s Valley Hops, who will offer Aussies the opportunity to work from their rooftop brewery space in Fortitude Valley, and from Wednesday to Friday from 11:30am – 7:00pm will serve up $20 pizzas with a schmiddy of their core beer range. 
• Perth’s Valley Social, who will be offering a variety of rotating lunch specials from Wednesday to Friday, including pub classics such as chicken parmi, steak and fisherman’s plate, washed down with a Hippie locally brewed kombucha. Or, to settle the after-work appetite, opt for their brewery tour, beers and baos special where you can taste their locally-made boutique beers alongside their famous Korean fried chicken baos, as well as a brewery tour. 
• The Island on the Gold Coast will join in on the fun, inviting workers to start their workday by grabbing brekkie at Goldie’s, their bar and bistro, for a $20 a’la carte breakfast menu item with a barista coffee, tea or juice. Once the morning meetings are out of the way, enjoy a $20 pizza washed down with wine, a schooner of Valley Hops beer or a soft drink. Shake off the day by heading up to their rooftop for after-work bevvies and soak in the sights from the Gold Coast’s largest open-air rooftop bar. 

#WFHospoWeek was born from research conducted by me&u that revealed strong interest in visiting worker-friendly venues, and using these venues as a third space. Nearly three in five (58%) venue-goers would use venues as a working location if they had sufficient provisions, and three in five (60%) venue-goers would like to use venues more often to meet colleagues or associates during the working day. 

Moreover, 2023 research from Third Place found that workers typically utilise ‘third place’ hospitality venues two to three times per week for an average of one to three hours and often return with family and friends. Additionally, the research revealed that 86% of workers find third-place hospitality spaces contribute positively to overall wellbeing, and 98% would continue to use and support their local venues by using the spaces for work in the future.

Australia’s leading expert in flexible and remote work practices Professor Dr John Hopkins said: “In the evolving landscape of work, the #WFHospoWeek initiative highlights the pivotal role third places have in redefining overall workplace well-being.

“Research has shown that working from third places, like the pub, has a wealth of positive impacts, including reducing stress, sparking creativity, increasing focus and boosting mood, with 86% of Australians noting that working from third places has a positive effect on their overall well-being.

“Additionally, gathering with co-workers in venues often results in a new sense of camaraderie and accountability. These shared experiences not only prevent burnout but also create a space for mental recharge, boosting resilience. So, #WFHospoWeek is a great way for businesses and workers to embrace a new and exciting era of flexible working conditions and head towards a future where work is not just a task but a journey of balance and personal development.

For a full list of venues to work from during #WFHospoWeek 2023 visit www.third-place.org and book a table.