Relocation Strategies provides guidance through pandemic

0

Relocation Strategies helps companies use its space efficiently and economically.

Relocation Strategies CEO and owner Melissa St. John said the company has taken on a new mission since the coronavirus pandemic forced many to work at home starting in mid-March.

CIC DOUGH 0721 Relocation Strategies St John
St. John

“We are in the business of helping people reimagine their workplace,” the Geist resident said. “So many of our clients have been in so much of a fog. They’ve been getting so much misinformation all over the place.”

So, the Indianapolis transition management company created a survey and sent it to clients, business leaders, vendors and staff through an email blast.

“I think it was a great cross section,” she said.

The survey, conducted the week of June 8, drew 215 responses and revealed 23 percent of employees felt less productive, 32 percent indicated they felt a higher productivity rate at home and 45 percent said productivity was the same.

The survey said 43 percent would want to work in the office three days a week while 29 percent would like to work from home the entire time.

Among those polled, 49 percent said offices could stay the same, 16 percent said offices should be reduced and 35 percent were not sure what change is necessary.

“It’s tangible, and it’s going to help people make good decisions,” St. John said of the survey.

A major finding that stood out to St. John is that more than 50 percent of respondents are unclear what their new office space or “new normal” will look like. St. John recommends companies poll their staff to determine each individual needs within departments. St. John said some employees might have child care issues or have to take care of a parent.

“One of our first questions was how many people were actually productive at home,” St. John said. “Employers need to embrace that there are going to be other tools out there where we can track productivity.”

CleanState Technology Group President and CEO John Loveys said his Carmel-based cloud consulting company used Relocation Strategies’ assistance two ways. CleanSlate was relocating from a West Clay office to a more centralized office to 645 W. Carmel Dr. when the pandemic hit.

“We left our old building in March, and we then worked from home,” Loveys said. “We were going to work from home regardless, but Relocation Strategies has been very helpful in getting into the new space, maximizing the square footage, organizing the seating arrangements for the employees.”

CleanSlate moved into its new space July 6 with key personnel.

“The bulk of the employees are still working remotely, and we are phasing them in,” Loveys said. “The next phase is the first week of August, and the third phase will be the first week of September assuming things don’t flare up with COVID.”

St. John said some companies might seek less space with people working at home and others still might need more space.

“We learned it’s not one-size-fits-all,” she said. “It has to be customized to your business and what your situation is with your workers.”

Relocation Strategies has developed a Workplace Productivity Analysis to help navigate the challenging times.

“There are people that are head-down thinkers and they need complete silence when crunching numbers,” St. John said. “They might need to be in an office or have higher (dividing) panels. Then there are the people who want to be in a group and collaborate. If people are productive and feel like they are going to get things done, then they are going to be engaged. We need to get our economy back. We need to have companies be profitable. I’ve never been a fan of the open office, one-size-fits-all. That was the way people were cramming everyone in and saving money on real estate. That is going to come back to bite them.”

For more, visit relocationstrategies.com.


Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Share.

Current Morning Briefing Logo

Stay CURRENT with our daily newsletter (M-F) and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox for free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to



By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact