Are you a business owner who’s considering asking your employees to help you move to a new office building? If so, you might want to consider some of the many inherent risks that come when you choose not to hire a professional mover. Here are some of the biggest risks of asking employees to move your office.
1. Increased Risk of Employee Injury
The potential for employee injury is a huge issue when it comes to moving offices. It’s not safe to have employees help with a move, but if you are set on it, ensure that all of your employees follow safe moving practices to minimize injury.
Here are just a few of the issues that can arise when you use employees as your office movers:
- Injuries or concussions from falling furniture
- Back strain or injuries from lifting heavy boxes/furniture
- Hand sprains from carrying oddly-shaped items
- Increased risk of trips and falls due to tripping hazards
- Difficulty leaving the building during an emergency because of obstructions
As many as 21% of workplace injuries are caused by manual handling (lifting, caring, or moving boxes or items). When you require employees to move offices, you increase the risk of these types of injuries. Trips and falls are other risks, with 15% of all claims being attributed to them. 22% of these incidents resulted in over a month away from work.
As a business owner, the last thing you want to deal with is an injury that will lead to worker’s compensation claims and require your employees to be out of the office following the move.
When everyone is rushing to get supplies from one location to another, chances are that they won’t be as safe as they should be. Reports show that 88% of workplace injuries are caused by unsafe acts done by workers. This statistic should discourage any employer from having their employees assist with a move.
2. Allergic Reaction to Dust and Cleaning Products
Another danger that most don’t consider when it comes to a move is the potential to exacerbate allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems. Between the dust and other allergens being released into the air and the use of chemicals to clean the office, breathing issues are inevitable.
If your employee has severe allergies or other breathing problems, they could be entitled to compensation and time off work.
Here are some of the allergens that could potentially cause problems on moving day:
- Dust
- Latex
- Fumes
- Office plants
- Office supply chemicals
- Foods
- Perfume
- Pet dander
3. Destruction of Important Company Property
If you facilitate your office move and suffer loss, you will be responsible for it. If you hire a professional moving company and something gets damaged, all you need to do is file a claim to recoup the loss. (Note: this is only true if the moving company packs your belongings. In other words, make you opt for packing services!)
4. Elevated Stress Levels for Employees and Employers
It’s confirmed: moving is officially the most stressful experience a person can have. A 2020 study found that nearly half (45%) of Americans agree that there is nothing more stressful than going through a move. It beat out getting married, having kids, starting a first job, and switching careers – which really says something about our sentiments toward moving.
As you know, it’s harder than ever to find and keep invested employees. In today’s current climate, it’s important for employers to show that they value their employees. Telling your employees to risk their health by moving offices is not a good idea. It causes employees to feel disrespected and disempowered, which is the last thing you want as a business owner.
Besides that, the greater stress you experience, the greater your risk of injury. (Yes, that goes for you too!) Stress is a factor in 60%-80% of injuries. Hiring a professional moving company would be well worth your peace of mind and that of your employees!
5. Loss of Company or Client Assets
Professional moving companies have specific systems set in place to ensure that things don’t get lost. Imagine the stress you and your employees would feel if key equipment were lost in the move. No one needs that kind of tension in the workplace. Moving companies do this all the time – which means that they’ve learned all the “hacks” to ensure it goes smoothly.
And, again, if anything is lost, it is the moving company’s responsibility.
6. Less Productivity As Your Team Adjusts
For several days after the move, your team will be dealing with sore muscles and physical exhaustion. This could lead to a decrease in productivity as they adjust. They will need time to recover from the stress as well, which may affect their performance.
It will likely take time to get the office back to a productive state, as there may be a delay in getting access to records, files, or internet servers on day one of the move. If you have professional office movers to set up your workspace for you, your employees will be energized and empowered to get into the swing of things quickly without having to work through feelings of frustration due to careless words said during a move.
7. Difficulty Providing Exceptional Customer Service
Stress and physical strain is a poor recipe for providing customer service.
By allowing a commercial moving company to handle your office move, your employees will be energized and able to give the exceptional customer service your clients have come to expect. You will directly contribute to their mental and physical well-being by trusting the move to the experts rather than relying on your own employees to do it.
Let Us Handle Your Texas Company Move
Rather than risking the health of yourself and your employees, trust your commercial move to experts who have been in the business for over three decades. We serve the entire North Texas area, along with Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and more.
As experienced office movers, we offer a free online estimate to give you an idea of how much your move will cost. Contact us to get your office move started today!
