WeWork Gives Members Expanded Access, Pilots Pay-As-You-Go Program

As coworking companies continue to navigate the market disruption caused by the coronavirus, the industry leader is rolling out new offerings aimed at bringing more people to more buildings.

WeWork is piloting a pay-as-you-go program in New York that allows nonmembers to book workspaces by the hour, The Real Deal reported. A source familiar with the pilot program confirmed it to Bisnow.

The coworking giant is also giving existing members free expanded access to more than 800 locations across its portfolio, according to an email WeWork sent to members Wednesday. The expanded member access runs through Nov. 1, WeWork said in the email and on an informational page about the program. 

WeWork members with the base package have traditionally had access to one location, and they could pay extra for the "All Access" package that allows them to visit other locations. The company is now giving members the expanded package for free, allowing them to book rooms at its 828 global locations. 

Because of the pandemic, WeWork told members to look for green dots on the floor that create social distancing, it encouraged members to wear face coverings and said landlords may require temperature checks. 

The coworking provider is rolling out the All Access package for free to give more flexibility to members looking to work closer to home or to avoid public transportation, a WeWork spokesperson told Bisnow. 

"Whether our members are looking to work closer to home, reduce commute times or are just ready for a change of scenery, this benefit will give members the options they need," the spokesperson wrote in an email. 

The pilot of the pay-as-you-go offering, called the "On Demand" program, is available at 12 WeWork locations in New York City and is running for 60 days, The Real Deal reported. The program costs $29/day to rent a workspace or $10/hour to rent a meeting room.

The new offerings come as WeWork continues to respond to the challenges created by the coronavirus, as many companies have shifted to working from home and some have ended coworking memberships to cut costs. 

WeWork declined to share the latest occupancy numbers at its coworking spaces. WeWork CEO Sandeep Mathrani told Bisnow last month the company has collected 75% of its rents during the pandemic, and he said 85% of its locations remain profitable. 

The company has reduced its workforce from more than 14,000 people last year to roughly 5,600, the Financial Times reported last month, and it is also looking to get out of some leases. Mathrani told Bisnow it is rethinking about 15% of its leases, and the company recently pulled out of a 115K SF lease in Manhattan. 

Contact Jon Banister at [email protected].