*NEWS*K’s NEW TRENT IN NATION’s WORKFORCE

[Anonymous]

Kinko’s Generation represents new trend in Nation’s workforce
The
Kinko’s Generation represents employees who spend significant hours
working outside the traditional office.They’ve got a third workplace —
not the home, not the office, but the local coffee shop, where they can
surf the Web and conduct business in a less frenetic environment.”This
is like ‘Cheers,’ only with coffee instead of beer,” said Joshua
Lambert, who works as a data processor.But it’s not just the cup o’ joe
that draws Lambert to Unlimited Coffee in Phoenix.Lambert is part of a
growing trend in the workforce known as the Kinko’s Generation.Call it
the office of the future, except the future is here. Thirty million
Americans who take up a “third space” for work. According to
USATODAY.com, that number is growing 10 percent each year.”Sixty
percent of our business is Wi-Fi people bringing lap tops, surfing the
Internet,” said Hans Mathiesen, owner of Unlimited Coffee.In fact,
Unlimited Coffee opened its doors specifically for business
professionals.”We’ve had several law firms start up in coffee houses,
as well as an ink toner company that showed up very first
day,”Mathiesen said.Instead of fighting for workspace at a small table,
Kinko’s Generationers have wide tables and a 16-foot-long table to
choose from, an area that graphic designer Duke Clark uses to conduct
his business meetings.”It keeps my expenses down,” he said. “Don’t have
to fork out for coffee, doughnuts, also for hot summer months. Don’t
have to pay for air-conditioning.”Cutting overhead costs keeps
professionals like Lambert and Clark returning day after day.Stimulated
by the atmosphere, the efficiency and, of course, the jolt of
caffeine.Don’t forget there is cafe etiquette. Tip big, eat often, and
think of those hourly lattés or scones as rent for your table.And bring
quarters for the meter. Nothing drives virtual office workers crazier
than being asked for quarters to feed the meter.

[Author]

October 16, 2006 at 11:01 AM