Luxembourg has introduced coworking spaces specifically for civil servants working in ministries and public administrations, providing open-plan offices equipped with everything needed for daily tasks and allowing employees to avoid lengthy commutes into Luxembourg City.
Four of such coworking sites are already active across the country specifically designed to make working life more flexible and efficient for state employees.
Julie Büchler, who joined the Ministry of the Civil Service in July, is one of the many public sector workers benefiting from this new initiative.
While she is entitled to work remotely for three days each week, her daily commute from the south of Luxembourg to her office in Kirchberg previously meant long and stressful journeys through rush hour traffic.
She points out that this lost time could be better spent working or preparing for meetings, and that the frustration of being stuck in traffic is an added stress that makes it difficult to arrive ready for the day.
Now, instead of spending an hour on the road, Büchler makes use of the coworking space in Differdange. The site is only a fifteen-minute drive from her home, which saves her three-quarters of the time she would normally spend commuting.
She says this change allows her to start her day more calmly, take the time to bring her child to school, and arrive relaxed and ready to work, with all the necessary equipment at hand.
The coworking programme is gaining momentum among government staff. Each day, 98 coworking spots are available and currently, 345 civil servants are enrolled.
The initiative is seen as a strong alternative for those who cannot or do not wish to work from home, whether due to inadequate equipment or for practical reasons.
According to Jean-Paul Marc, project manager for the coworking scheme, not everyone has the necessary set-up at home, and coworking spaces provide a well-equipped alternative that also avoids the need to travel into the city
Figures from the state suggest that the programme could save over 700,000 kilometres of car travel annually and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 90 tonnes each year.
Marc highlights that reducing daily commutes is one of the main aims of the initiative, as it not only limits the distance driven but also lowers emissions and energy consumption, resulting in environmental benefits.
Coworking spaces are currently available in Schieren, Clervaux, Dudelange-Bettembourg, and Differdange’s new "Gravity" building, which opened its doors this year.
Plans are underway to open two additional coworking spaces, one in the west and one in the east of the country. Marc says the team hopes to make progress on these sites this year and next.
The Differdange coworking hub is considered especially well-placed, being close to a railway station and a shopping centre, making it convenient for users.
Its creation was made possible thanks to close collaboration with the Differdange municipal authorities.
