By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
At some point in the life cycle of your business you are likely to move your workplace. A commercial relocation is frequently as stressful for you and also your workers as a household goods move, only much more for you because you're responsible for your team's well-being, too. Below are six ways to keep your team focused and engaged during your office move to Houston.Open Discussion
Be as straightforward and clear as possible with your employees. Tell them the causes for the move--expansion, more affordable office space, or perhaps the need to be closer to infrastructure such as railways or airports--and more to the point, make the move public as soon as possible. When your move is caused by downsizing, reassure your remaining staff that the move is component to a constructive reorientating. Prepare a pre-move schedule along with important dates--any project deadlines, the times you will be moving, the times that you'll be packing and loading. The greater details you present, the better your crew can manage their duties through to the move day. In the event that something varies in your agenda, spread the word.
Call for Suggestions
Once you've opted to make a move, collect input from your team--a wish list, if you will--about the location and the sort of work place they might like. If you can, incorporate your staff in the decision making--these are the folks who got you where you are, therefore their views and suggestions ought to matter.
Deal with Drive Times, Transportation, and Parking
Every business is different, however there are a few constants across the board such as--everyone will have to commute to work. If you're in a small city, a move is not such a problem concerning stuff like parking garages, public transport, as well as traffic patterns because they normally are not a difficulty. If those are issues to your personnel, you should consider how they impact their potential to get to and from the office in a reasonable time, and how and where they park if you're in an downtown space where parking is at a premium. Think about everyone's new commute and time, and if it's possible, offer to help with transit cost or parking charges. Be open to adjustable hours or work-from-home days for your personnel who face lengthy commute times.
Supply Details on Child Care in Houston
Research day care and after school care in the new office and offer to help cover any application charges for associates who will need to make a change in day care.
Define Targets, Yet Have Some Fun
It is easy to get caught up in the anxiety and adrenaline rush--to the point that very little work is done in the run-up to the office move to Houston. Particularly when your move is long-distance, it's simple to overlook the work at hand if you are looking for a new place to live and marketing your old residence and researching school choices and uprooting families. There will be turmoil and chaos, so give your staff some flexibility--but be ready to gently steer any strays back on course if they start to slip.
Human nature being how it is, there will be some low spirits and nervousness in the days getting close to the move. Once more, if your move is long distance this could be far more apparent, so offer rewards for remaining on target and productive. Plan packing parties or get-togethers for families on the weekends.
Provide an Information Folder on Houston
Even in this digital era, an info packet is a fantastic thing to get. The depth of this package is dependent upon the size of the move--if it's local then you will not need to research school choices and neighborhoods. For a transfer which involves moving houses as well as the business, there will be the matters you will have to address, for example: neighborhoods, school choices, daycare, places of worship, hospitals/health care, nearby retail stores (grocery store, pharmacy, shopping), eateries, vets, gyms and after school programs.
Similar to any move, a commercial relocation to Houston will likely be stressful. By following these simple suggestions, it is possible to ease some of that stress and make certain it's a positive encounter leading to increased employee retention, so that you can hit the ground in good shape the initial day at the new office.
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