If the time
has come to move offices, taking measures to make the process less stressful
for yourself and your employees is essential. After all, as with any
relocation, commercial moves can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially
when you also have to organise the relocation of your employees.
Remember -
this time can also be daunting for them. Your employees will likely have
settled into your current office environment and the relocation may force them
to change their routine. To keep your employees happy during this time, follow
our top tips for preparing them for an office relocation.
Let them know early
As soon as
you decide to move office and have selected a new location, it’s time to let
your employees know. After all, the relocation may add extra time to your
employees’ commute or may make it difficult for them to get there on time
altogether, in which case they may need to consider their options.
Unfortunately, some employees may choose to leave the company as a result of
the relocation, so it’s important to give them plenty of time to make this
decision before you move offices.
Give them as much information as possible
If your
employees don’t know much about the area your office is moving to, they may be
concerned about having to spend Monday to Friday working there. This is
especially true for those who drive or rely on public transport for their
commute, as they’ll likely be worried about parking and accessibility. To make
life easier for them, give them as much information about the local area as
possible, including parking zones, public transport routes, nearby gyms, cafes
and so on.
Make alternative arrangements for employees
It may take
a couple of days, or even longer, to pack up your office and relocate to new
premises. However, asking your employees to take a couple of days off could be
frustrating for them - especially if they have tight deadlines to meet and
clients to keep in touch with. If you aren’t able to relocate during the
weekend, you’ll need to make alternative arrangements for your employees. This
may include lending out laptops or paying for them to use an external
co-working space for the days your office is out of action.
Be as flexible as possible
Be aware
that, if you’re relocating your office to a completely different area, many of
your employees will need to make changes to their commute, childcare
arrangements and lifestyles as a result. For instance, they may have to leave
home earlier to arrive at work on time, which may make it difficult for them to
drop off their children at school. If you can, try to be as flexible as
possible by offering flexible hours to the employees who need it most.
Don’t expect them to help with the relocation
You may be
tempted to save the pennies by asking your employees to help out with the
relocation. However, this is an unprofessional approach to take and is likely
to cause them a fair amount of stress. After all, they probably don’t want to
spend their days boxing up computer equipment and loading desks into cars! This
is a job for the professionals, so give your employees a break and hire a
dedicated storage and removals company.
At Rose
Removals, we specialise in a wide range of storage and removals services,
including commercial moves. Whether your business is moving
across the city or across the globe, we’re the BAR-accredited removalists you
need. For more information about our range of services, please don’t hesitate
to get in touch
with our Devon-based team of
professionals today.
