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Workplace Glossary

What Are Moves In Workplace Management?

A workplace move may look simple on the surface, but it usually affects multiple systems at once. Access needs to work, equipment needs to be ready, workplace records need to be updated, and the employee’s new location needs to be reflected across the organization. That is why moves are treated as a defined operational process rather than a one-off request.

Definition

In workplace management, a move is the planned relocation of an employee, team, or department from one physical location to another within a corporate real estate portfolio. Moves are the most visible component of the MAC (Moves, Adds, Changes) framework and require coordination across HR, IT, facilities, and security to execute without disrupting productivity or degrading space data.

Common Types of Workplace Moves
The complexity of a move depends on how many people, systems, and spaces are involved.
Type Example Typical Timeline
Individual
Single employee changes desk or floor
Team
Engineering squad moves to a new neighborhood
1–2 weeks
Floor consolidation
Vacating an underutilized floor
3–6 weeks, phased
Building migration
Relocating operations between buildings
2–6 months, multi-wave

The Trigger Cascade

Every move, regardless of scale, triggers a series of downstream actions. These often include access updates, IT setup, booking reassignment, mail routing, internal communication, and floor-plan changes. When those tasks are handled one by one instead of in parallel, even simple moves take longer than they should.

Why Post-Move Validation Matters

After a move is completed, the new location should be checked quickly to make sure access works, equipment is in place, and workplace records reflect the change accurately. This validation step matters because once a floor plan or booking system falls out of sync with reality, the quality of downstream reporting and planning starts to decline.

Explore Kadence Move Management

Questions People Ask About Workplace Moves
Q: What is a move in workplace management?
A: A move in workplace management is the planned relocation of an employee, team, or department from one physical location to another. It usually involves updates to access, equipment, booking systems, and workplace records so the new location is fully operational.Moves require cross-functional coordination across HR, IT, facilities, and security.
Q: How long should a workplace move take?
A: The timeline depends on the size and complexity of the move. Individual moves: under 48 hours with automation, 14–21 days with manual processes. Team relocations: 1–2 weeks. Floor consolidations: 3–6 weeks.
Q: What is the difference between a move and a change?
A: A move relocates a person to a different physical location. A change modifies an existing workspace—equipment, configuration, seating model—without relocating the occupant.