Who Should Disconnect and Reconnect Employee Workstations During an Office Move?
Quick AnswerWho should disconnect and reconnect employee workstations during an office move?Decide the split before moving day. IT should usually control shutdown, labeling, network-dependent equipment and final testing. Movers can transport properly packed and labeled computers, monitors and accessories. Employees can pack personal desk items and, if your IT team allows it, simple peripherals such as keyboards and mice. The important thing is that every workstation has one defined owner for disconnect and one for reconnect – not three teams assuming someone else will do it.
Workstation moves become messy when responsibility is vague. A monitor reaches the new desk but its power cable is in another crate, a dock is unlabeled, or IT discovers that employees disconnected equipment in different ways.
A Practical Responsibility Split
| Task | Typical owner |
|---|---|
| Shut down and identify workstation equipment | IT or a documented employee process |
| Pack personal desk items | Employee |
| Move labeled monitors, PCs and crates | Moving crew |
| Reconnect and test the workstation | IT or designated technical support |
Keep Each Workstation Together
Use one workstation ID across the computer, monitors, dock, cable bag and destination desk. If employees bag their own peripherals, the bag should carry the same destination code as the rest of the workstation.
That matters more than whether IT or the employee physically unplugged the mouse. The goal is that everything belonging to one desk arrives together and can be reconnected without detective work.
Do Not Ask Movers to Make IT Decisions
The moving crew should know what equipment to transport and where it goes. It should not have to decide which network cable stays, which device is obsolete, or whether a particular system can be powered down.
Likewise, IT should not spend the entire move carrying desks and crates if the moving company is already handling physical transport.
Plan for Exceptions
Identify workstations with non-standard equipment before the move: dual-monitor arms, specialty printers, desktop UPS units, engineering hardware or accessibility equipment. Those desks may need a different disconnect or packing plan from the standard workstation.
Wall-mounted TVs and conference-room AV are a separate scope; see our article on who should handle wall-mounted TVs and AV equipment.
Test Before Employees Return
Reconnection is not complete when the cables are plugged in. IT should verify the critical basics for each workstation or priority group: power, network access, displays, dock, keyboard and mouse, plus any role-specific equipment needed for work.
For the broader commercial move process, see our NYC office and commercial moving guide.
Workstation checkpoint: Every desk should have one destination code and a named responsibility for disconnect, physical transport and reconnect before the move starts.
Bottom Line
IT should usually own the technical shutdown, labeling and final testing; movers should own physical transport; employees can handle personal desk items and simple peripherals when the company has a clear process. The exact split can vary, but it must be decided in advance and applied consistently across every workstation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should employees unplug their own computers?
They can if IT provides a simple standardized process, but IT should control any equipment or connections where mistakes could affect security, data or reopening.
Can movers transport computers and monitors?
Yes, if that equipment is included in the agreed scope and packed and labeled appropriately.
Who should reconnect workstations at the new office?
IT or designated technical support should usually own the final reconnect and testing so problems are found before employees need the desks.
