Talent mobility has increased in this new era of technological and industrial development. Thus, there are situations where the company must relocate their employees to another place or company, also called global mobility. This can happen for various reasons. One of these reasons could be the need for an employee’s talent in a particular company’s domain to help improve the company as a whole. But this process is time-consuming and costly for many businesses. This is the point where relocation management companies play a vital role. This business helps other companies shift or relocate their employees by providing them with faster and more affordable solutions. To learn more about relocation management companies, we encourage you to continue reading.

What are the reasons for employee relocation?

Relocation stands as an important benefit for both employees as well as the company. When you shift talent from one place to another, where it is most in need, both the employee and company can benefit and prosper from this change. The employee gains new experiences and the company is able to share the knowledge that this particular employee can hold with others who want to learn and grow.  Relocation could also be due to a development program that will be profitable for the company that the employee works for. Sharing knowledge can help the company’s growth in other locations, by learning from this employee relocation.

Many companies may transfer their knowledgeable employees from one location to another where there is a need of sharing a few important skills which would help the companies upskill others. A company can also do this to ensure the proper working condition of other branches of the company or locations. Thus, there are many advantages both for the employee as well as the company by the process of relocation. This process becomes easier when a relocation management company is involved. They make the work much faster and at an affordable cost.

Why is it difficult without relocation management companies?

It is a complex process because the relocation of an employee involves:

• Buying a new home.
• Renting an apartment.
• Moving goods from the present to the new place.

Moreover, if the employee has a family and children, it is not easy to find a school and adapt to the new condition. International relocation involves the knowledge gained about rules and language for the employee. It takes an enormous amount of time when all these processes are done by the employee himself or herself. During this change, it can reduce the company’s productivity at the particular new location due to the delay in the talent shift. All these of these mishaps can be avoided and done in a short span of time with the relocation management companies.

Minimizes the time taken for such processes

It is recommended to go with a relocation management company for talent mobility because it is not easy for an employee to deal with relocation, if they have never been exposed to it before. The relocation management companies help the employees and corporations by taking care of relocation processes before and after it is done. Thus, the employee doesn’t have to waste their quality time and step back from their work by involving themselves wholly in the relocation process. It can also be stressful for an employee to handle both work and relocation at the same time, decreasing productivity.

RMC makes it easy for both employee and HR department

It is usually the Human resource management that helps and supports the relocation of an employee. The department ensures that the relocation is consistent and made in a way that does not cause any productivity loss for the company. For an employee, relocation is stressful until they are provided with a helping hand. This is where the relocation management companies provide you with the assistance you need. This aid would be much needed when it is an international relocation. These kinds of international relocations are not easy, but there are so many processes that have to be followed to ensure that there are no problems in the future.

When an employee is relocating internationally, he or she might already have stress about adapting to the new culture, environment, and other big life changes. Thus, having a relocation management company will be of great use and help them in this adjustment period. In addition, having a contract with trusted and professional relocating companies can help the work be done faster and effectively because they have a good network with relocation experts in their hand.

Concatenation of expert relocators

Expert RMCs have a strong network of trusted partners including household goods movers, real estate firms, temporary housing providers, cross-cultural trainers, and other experts who help in the employee relocation process. These partners and networks work jointly and ensure a smooth relocation process before and during the relocation of an employee from one place to another. 

Making a major life changing decision is not easy, especially when it involves moving across the country or globe! Even the most excited employees may have concerns about the relocation process. Frequent communication is paramount to a successful relocation for both the employee and your organization. By anticipating and recognizing employee concerns, you’ll be prepared to alleviate their worries and keep relocations moving smoothly. Below are some common employee relocation concerns and how you can help.

Concerns About Finding a Place to Live in the Destination
With U.S. home inventory currently well below demand, it’s not unusual for double-digit offers, many well over asking price on the same or next day after the home hits the market! There’s a chance your employee could sell their home so quickly and then not have a new home to move into at the new location. It’s important to give your employees the time and resources they need to find a new home and complete the move.

• Your Relocation Management Company (RMC) should provide qualified real estate agents that understand the relocation process and the timelines associated with such moves.
• If you need your employee in the new location immediately, offer them temporary corporate housing so they’ll rest assured while they continue their new home search.

Concerns About Their Family & Acclimating to the New Location

Family can be a top reason that employees decline a relocation. Employees and their families may have obligations they must fulfill before moving. They might want their children to finish out the school year, have an ill family member or have a partner with their own career pursuits. Moving is stressful, but not knowing anyone in the new location makes it even more challenging. Kids especially find it difficult to move from friends, family and school. Your employee and their family have built a well-established network – from their favorite grocery store to their gym, and it’s difficult to leave all that behind. Your employee cannot 100% focus on their new position when they are preoccupied with their family’s needs.

When you take the family’s needs into consideration, you are showing your employee you truly care about making this a positive experience for them. Anything that you can do to show that you care about their personal life will go a long way to ease their stress and concerns.

• It’s essential that you communicate timelines and expectations with the employee. By regularly discussing organizational needs and understanding each individual employee’s circumstances, you greatly increase the chances of retaining your top employees.

Destination Services are Crucial to a Successful Move

• Provide the transferee and family with settling-in services including information on the new city, neighborhoods, medical options, shopping, transportation, utility connections, schools and more.
• Set up an area orientation to help them get familiarized with their new surroundings.
• Provide language and cultural training. Help with passports, Visas, work permits and immigration assistance. All especially important for global moves.
• Offer spousal/partner career assistance to help their significant other find a job in the new location.
• If the family needs to stay in the old location longer than anticipated, offer the employee temporary housing.
• Pay for travel expenses to and from the new location.

Concerns About Affording to Live in the New Neighborhood
Packing up and moving from rural Iowa to Manhattan would be a shock to anyone. The cost of living can be drastically different depending on where your employee is moving from and to. The cost of homes, taxes, even groceries may be significantly more than what your employees are used to.

• Offer your employee a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) that helps ease your employees into the cost of the new location. Many companies choose to taper off these benefits over the course of a few years. You can make the transition to a new city less costly and more affordable for your best employees.

A good RMC will help lesson transferee stress and concerns associated with a relocation. Need help managing employee relocations for your organization? Contact WHR Group, Inc. now.