Relocating employees is one of the most complicated tasks an organization can undertake. It involves numerous variables, most of which are dynamic, meaning things can go horribly wrong at any stage.
Therefore, relocating employees is a matter that requires utmost consideration and planning. You need to take into account many factors and exercise incredible foresight.
You can use the following tips to have a stress free move while relocating employees:
1. Start Planning As Early As Possible
An office relocation is a complicated process with multiple moving parts. Therefore, if you want to ensure you take as much into consideration as possible, you should start the planning process as early as possible. It’s a good idea to get in touch with reliable moving companies well ahead of the time.
You should give yourself at least three months of planning, but six months to a year would be ideal, depending on the timeline you have. Start planning the important relocation details first and then move on to less important or urgent issues.
There will be things you have to discard or sell while others you will keep. Electronic equipment in particular needs to be discarded or transported according to various procedures which need adequate preparation.
2. Put Someone In Charge Of The Relocation
Part of the planning process should involve having someone coordinate the move. Like many other facets of business, leadership is essential when relocating employees. Many companies ignore this advice and suffer the consequences of doing so.
One of the best things you can do is hire a relocation specialist. They have experience with relocations and will offer insight into things you will miss. When there is someone in charge of the relocation, the process becomes a lot more streamlined than it otherwise would be.
A relocation coordinator may not be as crucial for a small business. However, for a large company with multiple departments, a relocation coordinator will make a tremendous difference to the move.
3. Notify Your Customers
When relocating employees, it is natural to be focused entirely on what is happening in the office. However, you should realize that you are not the only one who will suffer due to the move; your customers will suffer too.
Therefore, you should notify your customers of the move if you want it to be less stressful. It will prevent customers from constantly coming to an office that is slowly being emptied. You could set up a temporary space where you can still help your clients or help them remotely, depending on the service you offer.
Letting your customers know of your move will help the relocation be a lot smoother and help with effective performance when dealing with clients.
4. Prepare an Inventory
The fastest way to lose items during an employee relocation is to have no idea what items you are moving. Therefore, you should create an inventory of all the things you have in your office.
Organize the list of items in the most optimal way to ensure you can account for all the stock once the move is complete. A typical office has hundreds of items, meaning much can be lost, so an inventory is essential.
5. Involve Employees As Much As Possible
Another grave mistake that many organizations make is to push employees to the sidelines when relocating them. It is a surefire way to make them feel excluded, and they will often try to slow down the process.
It could also lead to conflict between employees and others involved in the relocation process, which will then require conflict management. Moving is stressful for all involved, but it will be less stressful when employees participate.
Communicate with employees and find out how it will affect them as it concerns commute times, working hours, and other facets of life outside the office. If you involve employees in the process, they will likely develop ideas that will help with the move.
Office relocations are very stressful for all parties involved in the process. You can use the tips above to make the move a whole lot less stressful. Find a way to apply them to your specific situation, and you will be happy with the results of your employee relocation.
