Involving staff in an office move
No matter what your reason is for moving office, one of the most important issues when it comes to a business relocation is how it will affect employees. If you want your staff to be as cooperative as possible, it is important that you keep them regularly informed so that they feel part of the move.
Once you've chosen a new office space, you must notify your employees as soon as possible, particularly if the new premises are located further away as this could undoubtedly affect their daily commute to work.
Notifying staff of any changes they may have to make to their commute and working out which routes are most accessible will show your staff you are committed to making the move as stress-free for them as possible.
Tackle staff issues head on
If you find that there are issues surrounding your choice of office space such as transit fees or parking spaces, even if you cannot offer incentives to your staff, make sure that they are notified of these issues early so they have time to consider what is best for them in the long run. If you are able to offer some incentives to staff to compensate for the office relocation, make sure these are voiced as early as possible. For example, perhaps staff can adopt a more flexible working schedule, or start and finish work earlier or later depending on traffic flow and what will work best with their commute.
Maintain communication
Keep communicating with your staff throughout every step of the office move to prevent a dip in office morale. As the move date approaches it is a good idea to provide all of your employees with a time line explaining how the move will proceed, what their individual role will be and what is expected from them during the entire process.
You can also provide staff with a feedback form to fill out after the office move has taken place. This provides them with the opportunity to express any concerns (either anonymously or with their name attached) as well as put forward any questions.
Involve employees
Once you know where your company is moving to and what the new office space will look like, it is a good idea to get your staff involved in the entire moving-in process. Not just by including them in the packing and transportation of the office furniture and IT equipment, but also when it comes to the new office layout. Ask staff their opinion on where things should go and how things should be set up for maximum efficiency. Involving them in the key decision making will ensure that morale is kept high in what can often be a challenging and stressful time.
For further information on how to manage your staff during an office move download the HR Guide to Moving Office.
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