Adapting To A New Office: How to Minimise the Adjustment Period

For any business, a change of scenery can be an important step in growing and shaping company culture. However, commercial office relocation can also be disruptive to normal processes. Relocation costs, employee happiness, transitional workflows, reorganisation and short-term productivity losses are just some of the hidden costs you need to consider when planning an office move. Luckily, with the right planning, advice, and company by your side, you will be able to settle into your new environment before you know it.

In this article, we discuss some of the factors to consider when relocating an office and our top five office relocation tips.

1. Plan in advance

Planning an office move is not just about the physical move itself but also the more subtle, human elements. For example, an organisation’s climate can be instantly impacted by things like cubicle arrangements, department boundaries, and daily routines. For this reason, it is important to consult with your employees and consider their input into the design and layout of your new space.

Likewise, when organising a commercial office relocation decide on a moving date, timeframe and make up a schedule to make sure every deadline is met. Don’t forget about drafting a budget to cover moving costs as well.

2. Communicate with your employees

Moving is stressful for everyone—try to keep this in mind as one of the factors to consider when relocating an office. It is likely your staff and employees are worried about how their work might be disrupted, as well as what will happen to them when the move is complete. If you fail to communicate, it might lead to unnecessary stress and even resentment.

Having a communications plan to keep your employees up to date is crucial for a successful relocation. As you talk with your staff always try to do so face-to-face first, followed by supplementary email communications. Deliver a consistent, positive message and take your time to explain clearly why the change is happening and how they will be affected.

3. Be organised

There are seemingly endless factors to consider in commercial office relocation. Some of the things you need to keep on top of include:

• Building moving rules: are you only allowed to move during office hours? What is the vacating process like? Is there anything you need to sign?
• Update your address: will you need to get new business cards? Perhaps let some of your clients know?
• Pack everything: from the bottom of your desk drawers to the break room cupboard.
• Label your boxes: carefully label everything correctly. It will make things much easier once you’re in the new place.
• Do a deep clean: get rid of any old papers and furniture you no longer need. This is a great chance to start over!

4. Make your new office feel like home

When you first move into your new environment, it will likely feel empty, hollow and even a little strange. Working in a dull, cold and boring environment can be detrimental to mood, productivity and even mental health. A key step to helping your employees’ transition into this new chapter is making the new office space feel homelier. Open the blinds and curtains as to let in natural light, place some colourful artwork on the walls and begin adding personal touches throughout the space.

5. Choose the right company

Perhaps the most important of our office relocation tips, choosing the right moving and fit-out companies to work with during your move can make all the difference. In particular, the right office furniture supply and installation company will have all the knowledge, resource and experience required to make the process of moving as smooth as possible. They will help you create a comfortable, pleasant environment that conveys professionalism and engineer furniture solutions for all your office needs.

Moving can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be as hectic as you think. For more information or to learn more about creating inspiring workspaces contact Burgtec today.

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