- June 7, 2019
- in Office Renovation
- 3805
- 9
You’ve decided it’s time for an office renovation! New paint colors on the walls, an updated bathroom
and an open-office design, while incorporating plenty of quiet-work space. But if you’re not able to move everyone in your office to a temporary location during your remodel, you’re going to going to have to work with the noise, the dust and the confusion. We’ve put together a few tips to help you manage this exciting yet frustrating time.
First, remind your staff and clients although the noise and debris may seem endless, it’s temporary! To keep anxiety to a minimum, communicate with your workers verbally, through your company web site and via signage posted in common areas. Make it clear to them the company’s vision, the purpose of the office renovation and how it will improve their work environment.
To help your employees cope, try to:
Second, keep your clients informed. Depending on your type of business, you may want to send your clients a letter informing them of the office renovation, how the changes will positively benefit them, if parking will be impacted and where to look on the company website for more information and updates. Placing “Pardon Our Construction” signs at public entrances would remind clients you’re aware of the inconvenience it may be causing them and how the improvements will positively impact them
This is easier said than done! It will be hard to escape the dust from sanders, electric saws and spray paint. To help limit the amount of dust that may travel from the work site, make sure it’s included in your construction contract that barriers such as heavy plastic sheeting or compression-fit temporary walls must be in use for the duration of the project. If possible, have your contractor fit equipment to filter dust.
To try to minimize the impact of dust on your office:
To make the process easier for you and your personnel you might want to decide if some of your staff can temporarily work from home. This would be a good option for those members of your company who suffer with breathing issues.
Because there will be construction delays and client and employee grumbling, keep the atmosphere positively charged. At different stages remind the staff of what the newly remodeled office space will look like. Post different phases of the office reconstruction next to the renderings of the completed work spaces showing fresh paint colors, shiny fixtures, restored or new furniture, lush plants and natural light.
Occasionally, create diversions with special days set aside for a variety of food trucks or host an off-site event, or happy hour. Celebrate successfully completed deadlines with a company party. Create stickers or novelty pins that claim, “I survived the first, second, third week, or X phase of our office renovation!” You could post photos of employees touring the construction site and giving thumbs up in their half completed office spaces. Most of all, keep reminding everyone, it’s only a temporary situation!
9 COMMENTS
Taylor Wright
January 29, 2020, 5:33 pm ReplyIt’s good to know that you can arrange different parking situations to accommodate the employees. Our current business building is undergoing major construction and it’s starting to become inconvenient. I’ll have to bring this up to my boss so we all don’t lose our minds.
Praveen Kumar
January 30, 2020, 6:07 am ReplyI have always like practical and realistic tips rather than idealistic tips. Thanks for writing and sharing this. I liked your tips very much.
Taylor Hansen
April 15, 2020, 11:30 am ReplyI like that you said to make a timeline of the project milestones to help morale. My brother needs renovations in his company office space and he is worried that it will put a damper on his employee’s morale. I’ll be sure to share this with him so he can be a good leader during the renovation period.
Praveen Kumar
June 19, 2020, 4:31 am ReplyJust 3 points but you have entirely covered the important necessary things needed for an office renovation. I know how it can painful to survive an office renovation as I have gone through such situation. I hope we had such guidance those times. Thanks for writing and sharing it.
Zoe Campos
October 19, 2020, 6:13 am ReplyI totally agree that the company’s vision should be cleared to employees before starting the commercial remodeling project. Not everyone can probably understand why there should be noise and debris around the building when everything is fine in the first place. Still, I believe that changes are always welcome, and it is the management’s role to make their workers see their purpose.