Once you know where the company is moving to, what the new space will look like and a time frame established, it’s a good idea to have employees get more involved in the move, more than simply packing up their office space .
Ask staff their opinion on how the new office space will work, how things could be set up for efficiency, staff enjoyment and overall working environment. The more staff become involved in the decision-making process, the greater the input and team support. This is essential to keeping morale high during what can often be a difficult time.
Find out if there are things about the current (old) office that didn’t work and that might be improved in the new space. Perhaps this might be the set-up of the photocopier room or the location of the staff lounge or the lack of desk space in each office. Employees are the best consultants when it comes to improving work flow and environment.
Ask opinions on new branding. If your company has decided to re-brand as part of the move, ask employees to contribute their opinion to the new company look. Remember, a move is a great time to reaffirm company’s ideals and put a fresh face forward.
Create an information package about the new neighborhood. If your company has been located in one place for a while, employees will have their favorite eating spots, coffee shops and business-related services nearby. To help with the transition, create a list of local businesses that are in the new neighborhood, including restaurants, cafes, gyms, day care centers, dry cleaners and grocery stores.
If you’re a small business owner, you might consider taking an afternoon off to visit the new area with your employees. Let them see the new space and spend some time in the area. Again, this will ease the transition.
