Move Handbook - Office Cleanup

· Basic Rules
· Office Cleanup
· Hazards and Impacts
· Preparing for the Move
· Move Schedule
· Staging
· During the Move
· After the Move

Have a successful office cleanup

You might think... "there's no secret to it. We just tell everyone to wear old clothes and to get their stuff cleaned up!" While this strategy might work for a smaller office, large offices that have a variety of internal and external customers may find that getting things cleaned up around the office is difficult especially when a certain amount of the regular work must still be done.

Using the following checklist will help.

[ ] Start early
[ ] Build a timeline of events
[ ] Create a budget (sometimes there is an extra surcharge for additional hauling or equipment).
[ ] Brief managers and staff (repeatedly); may also include creating stats reports.
[ ] Meet with recycling committees.
[ ] Establish contact points for each unit, and clarify their roles and responsibilities.
[ ] Meet with building representatives.
[ ] Meeting with recycling vendor.
[ ] Contract warehouse staff for additional support.
[ ] Identify which staff has responsibility for disposing of various materials (such as software, records, supplies, etc.)
[ ] Work with employee support groups to have some fun with it...such as sponsoring a pizza feed or ice cream social, awards for the oldest and strangest stuff found, etc.
[ ] Meet with employee support groups.
[ ] Create informational and instructional information for employees on implementation date, roles and responsibilities, resources, etc.
[ ] Deliver and setting up equipment (such as recycling bins).
[ ] Reserve a conference room for a command center.
[ ] Haul off recycled and tossed materials during and after the cleanup.
[ ] Create notices for your customers that explain what is going on and how they can get needed services. This is particularly important for those offices serving the public.
[ ] Coordinate with safety officers, nurses, security, and others.
[ ] Talk to employees, get them involved, get their support.
[ ] Combine with a cleanup date. In some cases, a cleanup day combined with an office move not only helps get the office spiffy, but also reduces the amount of materials to be moved.
[ ] Ask for help. Many hands can make the job easier and this is one job where many hands are needed. Some of the people and roles that you might need in your cleanup day include:

• Managers: Not only do they need to cleanup, but they can help convince other managers to get involved and get their areas cleaned up as well. Managers may also want to help provide or distribute awards, or be able to support your efforts in other ways...like buy pizza!!!
• Warehouse Staff: These folks could take away unused furniture and equipment, empty or move large collection bins, move heavy boxes and other heavy stuff. May also be responsible for other activities such as software recycling.
• Recycling Committee: This committee will know how to get more supplies to you such as recycling barrels, they will also know who to call to get the heavy items moved.
• Employees: Use others to save your back and be safe. Don't pick up heavy or awkward objects. Have two or more help where needed.
• Building Staff: Building staff may be able to help arrange for additional recycling bins, keep a watchful eye for things that should not be going out the door (such as equipment), and be alerted to changes in elevator use.