Ask any human resources professional and they’ll tell you: getting the right people in the right jobs is only half the battle. The other half? Retaining them. Given the current era of low unemployment and the increasing cost of replacing employees (almost twice the cost of single employee’s annual salary!) employers are finding it harder to fill their open positions and investing more than ever in recruiting. That’s why we’re so focused on making sure every moment of your employee’s relocation experience is top-notch—because their family, community, and home are far more poignant priorities than ping pong tables and Friday Jean Days.
We know this from our 2018 benchmark study on global mobility and corporate culture where we learned that 46% of employers use relocation as a tool for retention. Relocating the right people to the right places doesn’t only help companies reach business objectives either. When used as part of a forward-looking talent management program, it can spur career development and help keep employees engaged. But for this to happen, relocations need to be properly executed, with care and empathy. Let’s take a closer look at how relocation, when done right, can help retention.
Happiness Equals Productivity
If you’ve suspected that happiness promotes workplace productivity, the data is right there with you! Gallup reported that companies with engaged employees outperform their unengaged counterparts by more than 140%. Similarly, a 2014 study of more than 700 people across four different experiments confirmed that happier people are more productive. It’s proven time and time again—happy employees = happy customers = more revenue.
And because of how personal and intimate a relocation is for your employees, the impact can go far deeper. If your employees are worrying about their home not selling or the logistics of moving, they’re not focused on their work. If they feel ignored or are fighting over a misunderstanding about a reimbursement, they might even feel far less engaged than before the promotion that precipitated the move.
That’s why it’s imperative your relocation program partner is doing everything they can to ensure each of your employee’s needs are being tended to with care. At WHR Group, everything we do revolves around making your employees’ moves streamlined with high-touch service, support, and empathy.
Relocation with Empathy
Anytime someone relocates for work, there’s many sensitive factors that pop up. For example, maybe their house isn’t selling for as much as they anticipated, or their kids don’t want to leave their school, or their spouse is worried about finding employment in a new city. All of these are vital concerns and if left unaddressed, could significantly undercut the promotion and relocation benefits they received. This is why it’s critical your employees and their families are treated with empathy and responsiveness.
Our service model was designed to address the top concerns families have during a relocation before they become problems. We also train every professional who works with relocating employees as “counselors.” Their role and focus is to manage not only the timing and details of the move itself but also help each employee through any personal issues and concerns accompanying the move. Our goal is to make each employee as comfortable with the move as possible, so they can do their best work and know their company is concerned about their well-being.
Tailoring Each Move to the Needs of the Employee
Experienced counselors are only part of the story when it comes to focusing on the needs of your relocating employees. WHR Group also customizes the tactical aspects of each move to the needs of each employee, while also working within the parameters of your benefit program.
We do this because no two relocations are the same. A well-established family of five could require a full-service van line on the day of the move, while a single college graduate might be better served with a U-Haul or POD, which requires fewer resources and can get to the destination faster. Using our best-in-class proprietary technology, our experienced counselors easily and quickly adapt to the needs of each employee while still working within your company’s pre-arranged benefit budget and requirements. Giving us more time to provide high-touch, one-on-one, and caring support to your employee and their family’s immediate needs. It’s how we create a flexible, employee-centric relocation experience that can meet real people when they really need it.
For a relocation program to boost employee productivity and positive feelings about the organization, it needs to be administered with care and forethought. It’s why we value hard work, empathy, proactiveness, and trustworthiness in everything we do and from everyone we employ. We invite you to learn more about our high-tech, high-touch practice and how we can help your relocating employees feel great about their move.
