Businesses typically move office spaces as a result of growth or changing needs. For most employees, the benefits of an office relocation outweigh the challenges, according to a recent Clutch survey of 503 full-time U.S. employees who moved offices with their current business within the past 10 years.
Leaders should be forthcoming about the progress of the office search to make the transition smooth. Businesses that are encouraging and communicative about the office relocation can make employees see the move as positive, too.
“It is important for each organization to put someone in charge of the move who will keep communication open and transparent,” said Leslie Saul, owner of Leslie Saul & Associates.
Take Time To Collect Feedback, Reduce Stress
Distraction is inevitable when a business moves office spaces, and it will take time for employees to adjust to a new space.
Two-thirds of employees (67%) surveyed found office relocation challenging, despite the overall benefits of the move, and 30% said it was a distraction.
All Star Cleaning Services in Colorado moved from a 1,500-square-foot to a 5,000-square-foot office space last year. Employees now appreciate the larger space but were initially frustrated with the move.
“What was supposed to take three weeks ended up taking almost three months before we were able to fully move into the remodeled areas,” General Manager Ajia Holiday said. “Trying to answer phones and give solid customer service while people are [installing] floor above your head can be a very stressful work environment,”
The company lost some employees as a result of the stress from the move. The employees who stayed, however, know the move was necessary for the growing business.
Businesses moving office spaces should listen to employee feedback and reduce as much stress as possible to minimize challenges.
“It’s important that employees feel they have some say in the moving process – location, accessibility, some design input,” said Commercial Realtor Michelle Mumoli, CEO of the Mumoli Bush Group. “After all, if your employees are unhappy, you’ll be unhappy.”