The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), a public regulatory body for financial services, is offering money to staff, to help them adjust to an office commute that is six minutes longer than their current journey, The Telegraph reported last week (13 August).
Leaders of the watchdog for auditors, accountants and actuaries offered to financially support staff after moving the office from Moorgate in the City of London to Canary Wharf in Docklands, which is two stops away on the Elizabeth Line.
“It’s a temporary scheme to help people adjust,” said an FRC insider, who pointed out that employees will have to seek approval to receive extra cash, The Telegraph reported.
A FRC representative told the newspaper: “It’s targeted support on a case-by-case basis, as not everyone will have the same circumstances. It’s a small sum to help people get acquainted with their new commute.”
All change, even positive change, involves an element of loss, noted Paul Taylor-Pitt, director and organisational development consultant of consultancy Metamorphosish.
He said: “HR leaders have an opportunity to continually build confidence and competence in line managers, the unsung heroes of change, supporting them to navigate the big reactions that even a small change can create.”
David Liddle, founder CEO and chief consultant of The TCM Group, an HR and people consultancy, said: “Office moves are rarely just about logistics, they touch on people’s sense of belonging, security, and even identity. People leaders play a vital role in holding that human dimension.”
Office moves often spark anxiety, fear or loss, particularly if people feel an attachment to a building, a neighbourhood, or established routines, Liddle explained. “Space should be created to hear and respect these feelings,” he added.
“Financial support might be useful for some people. Others may need reassurance that their work relationships won’t be disrupted. Some may not care at all,” Taylor-Pitt explained.
Taylor-Pitt added that every member of staff is a unique, emotional, irrational human being, which means that HR professionals should treat all responses as valid and deeply personal.
Offering his view on how employers can get employees on side when making an office move, Liddle advised that leaders involve staff in shaping the new space, from desk layout to wellbeing facilities, to foster ownership and reduce resistance. He continued: “Consider establishing a ‘culture hub’ to ensure that all voices are heard through the process.”
People respond better when they understand the bigger purpose, such as cost savings, sustainability, modern facilities, or a new strategic direction, Liddle added.
He suggested that HR leaders can engage early and often, and that consultation should be genuine, not tokenistic. A move can symbolise renewal, new technology, improved collaboration, or a healthier workplace, Liddle added.
Finally, he said: “In essence, the office move becomes a moment for organisational storytelling. As one employee once said to me in mediation: ‘It wasn’t the change that worried me, it was feeling left out of the process.’ People and culture leaders can ensure that no one feels excluded from the narrative of renewal.”
