When a business moves to a new location, the majority of time and attention must go to the safe relocation of all the company’s goods and furnishings as well as the impact on customers. But are you taking care of your employees during this challenging time? If you’re not sure how to do so, discover five things any company can do to ensure their employees have a successful and low-stress move.

1. Communicate Well

Keep employees informed about the move. Communicate with them from the earliest stages of your plans to move locations — either a big move or a small one. Provide regular updates quarterly, monthly, and even weekly as the move gets closer. Ask for input from staff on how to move their own work areas and listen to their suggestions. And have an open-door policy regarding questions and concerns.

2. Use Professional Movers

Expecting your employees to move their own stuff can create several problems. First, employees likely don’t have the time to devote to such a large extra task. This can overwhelm them, cause frustration, and reduce their productivity. Instead, let them focus on continuing to do their jobs by using professional movers as much as possible.

Also, give employees some options for moving some of their own equipment — such as sensitive files or technical gadgets — but make it clear this is optional rather than mandatory.

3. Hire Help Before and After

Moving day isn’t the only day to hire professional help for your employees. Could they use assistance with either their regular jobs or with moving tasks before or after the big day? Ask for suggestions on how to deploy extra help that will make the biggest difference to each department or worker.

For instance, you might hire a temporary worker to help office employees purge old paperwork or sort through supply cabinets. Temporary staff could handle the phones while the receptionist prepares their area for moving. Or, outside helpers can organize and box up inventory for the manufacturing staff.

Your moving company may even provide ancillary services such as sorting, packing, disassembling, and reassembling things throughout the duration of your move project. Ask about these in advance.

4. Make a Plan

If their employer doesn’t have a solid plan for managing the move, employees must take up the slack. So put in place a workable plan for the entire project.

Many employers start by forming a moving committee that oversees the work from beginning to end. This committee should include employees from various departments. When you work with the employees on the logistics, you better ensure that their needs are met.

Create a written checklist and schedule for every activity that needs to be done before and after moving day. Determine exactly who will do each task and when. Check in with these persons to ensure they are keeping up with the schedule, then make adjustments to ensure no one falls behind.

5. Maintain Positivity

Moving your business is stressful for management and owners. But don’t let that allow a negative environment to creep into the office. Never take out your frustrations on employees.

Your employees — even the hesitant ones — are an important part of your team and are likely doing the best they can. Let them know how much you appreciate the work they do for the company on a regular basis as well as their extra efforts for the move. Simply asking how an employee is doing and how the company can help them during the move can go a long way to maintaining a happy employee.

Begin planning a successful business move by meeting with an experienced local moving service. Find out what they can do before, during, and after moving day to help you help your employees. Island Movers Inc. is ready to help. Call today to speak with a member of our professional commercial moving team.