SummaryRob and Feifei are discussing a new way of working in modern offices. What does the phrase 'hot desk' mean? And why do big organisations choose to hot-desk? Listen to the dialogue.

　　TranscriptNote: This is not a word-for-word transcript.

　　FeifeiHello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei and with me is Rob.

　　RobHello everyone. Hi Feifei, how are you?

　　FeifeiI'm very well, Rob, thank you. Which cool phrase have you brought to share with us?

　　RobI'd like to introduce the phrase 'to hot-desk' and the idea behind hot-desking in modern offices.

　　FeifeiI know this one, Rob. To hot-desk or hot-desking is an increasingly popular way of working to save office space.

　　RobYes, not like before, where everyone had their own desk, in a hot-desking office there are certain number of desks and computers available for people to use, and anyone who needs them can use them.

　　FeifeiThis way, companies can save space by reducing the overall number of desks it needs to provide because not everyone is at work every day.

　　RobThat's right. Throughout the year, there are always people on leave, away from the office or off sick. It's more common to see hot-desking in big organisations.

　　FeifeiLet's hear some examples of people talking about hot-desking.

　　ExamplesBBC New Broadcasting House is a hot-desking environment. People just sit wherever there is a free computer.

　　Hot desks should be kept clean and tidy at all times because you don't know who will use them next.

　　Many modern office workers are expected to hot-desk.

　　RobSo we heard people using 'hot desk' in three different ways.

　　FeifeiYes. Remember hot-desking is the noun form of the verb 'to hot-desk'.

　　RobWhen you write 'to hot-desk', don't forget 'hot' and 'desk' needs to be hyphenated.

　　FeifeiThe actual desk we use to do hot-desking is called a 'hot desk' - without the hyphen between the two words.

　　RobOK, I think that's enough 'hot-desking' for now.

　　FeifeiOh wait, Rob. I haven't got a desk today, I need to go and find a hot desk! Bye!

　　RobGood luck! Bye bye.