Office moves and relocations, while usually positive for the company, can be highly unsettling for your staff. We look at some ways that you can minimise the stress and disruption to make sure that productivity doesn’t suffer.
Discuss the move with your staff
While the move is still being planned, discuss the reasons for and logistics of the move with your staff. Ask for their input on the new location and when best to schedule it in order to minimise disruption for them.
Write an office relocation letter
An office relocation letter is sent out to suppliers and clients to make them aware of the business’ new location and whether they should expect any delays or downtime due to the move. This will help your staff by minimising negative feedback and miscommunication.
Manage the downtime
If there is likely to be a short period where work is not going to get done (or will be done slowly), try to manage this beforehand so there are no gaps in service delivery and extra strain on your staff.
Give packing instructions
The relocation company will usually do most of the packing but staff will still need to take care of personal items and possibly some office items, such as files and stationery. Make sure staff know what they are expected to pack themselves and when they should do it.
Give staff information about the new office
Staff will naturally want to know information about the new office location and layout, so they can plan ahead. This would generally include the new address, directions to get there, information about access control and the parking situation.
Communicate with staff
Before and during the move, communicate the progress to your staff and let them know about any potential issues or delays. Moving can be stressful and this will help your staff feel more in control and involved in the move.
Make sure furniture is correctly setup
Any office furniture that was dismantled for the move needs to be reassembled before your staff can return to work. Whiteboards and presentation screens also need to be reinstalled. It helps to find a relocation service that includes this in their offering.
Make sure IT has set up the computers and internet connection
Little work can get done without a computer and internet connection and the average staff member won’t have the know-how to set it up themselves. Before work resumes, make sure the IT department or service provider has set everything up properly.
Ensure the new kitchen is stocked
Sometimes the small things make a big difference. If your staff are accustomed to having tea, coffee or even snacks available, make sure the new kitchen is well stocked with these items before they return to work.
Corporate relocations with K-Mark
At K-Mark we offer professional and efficient corporate relocations and office moves, whether it’s for a whole branch or just a department. With our extensive experience, we can ensure that your employees return to their work as soon as possible with minimal disruption.
- We assign a qualified project manager to oversee every corporate relocation we handle
- We only use highly trained, experienced relocation teams, accustomed to working with corporate relocation checklists to ensure that no item or aspect of a move is overlooked
- We supply suitable boxes, equipment containers and trolleys, and handle all transportation logistics
- We handle all the minor snags that would otherwise disrupt operations.
After the move, we help employees settle in, moving heavy items, hanging whiteboards and pictures and performing any required repairs.
We can also help staff by changing locks, installing power poles, setting up office partitions and screens, fitting shelves, hanging cupboard rails, moving cupboards and removing empty boxes.
Contact us to find out more about our office relocation services or to get a quote.
