When you “go to the office” there’s an understanding that you’ll work at the same desk every day. Your spot … where you’ll sit in your chair and see pictures of your dog and your kids.

But at some companies, there is no assigned seating. Instead, employees must reserve a work space every day — be it a desk, office, quiet pod or meeting room — whatever suits the type of work they need to do that day.

It’s called hoteling. A more extreme form of this work-wherever model is called “beach toweling.” No reservations accepted. Employees just claim the space they want when they come in. If they’re going to be away for a couple of hours, they have to pack their stuff and find a new space when they get back.

Hoteling and beach toweling aren’t new. But they are becoming more prevalent as more companies let employees work remotely.

In fact, they usually function best when at least a quarter of employees will be working elsewhere on any given day — either at home, at a client’s or at a ski chalet.

And assuming the arrangement is a happy, efficient one for staffers, productivity may improve.

The quid pro quo for employees is the flexibility to work where they want — on site and off.

What’s more, hoteling flattens the power structure. No one “has” an office with a window. anyone can reserve one.

Where do you keep your stuff?

Lockers are typical. And if you pretty regularly choose to use the same space or your job demands it, you may have the use of a file drawer or two.

Excerpts from Jeanne Sahadi’s article @CNNMoney