Motivating staff left behind by relocation

I’ve worked in the HR team for a central government department for nearly 10 years. Throughout that time, employee engagement has not been a problem. But because of the government relocation programme, plans are under way to move our department outside London. It’s a programme that will help to curb government spending, but it also promises to have a profound impact on our workforce.

Most of the people in roles that are being relocated are unlikely to follow the department out of London. That has left me with a large problem: how to keep people engaged, motivated and productive when they know their job won’t be there this time next year. The temptation for a lot of people is to tread water until the department relocates, which could mean it will grow more and more ineffective.