Overcoming Challenges in Relocation Programs

How can a company excel at overcoming challenges in relocation programs? Global Mobility Solutions’ 2019 Forum included an inspiring presentation by Eric McElvenny, a military husband and proud father of three children. Eric graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2006. Following his graduation, Eric had the privilege of serving 7 years in the United States Marine Corps. Eric’s final military deployment was to Afghanistan. On this deployment, Eric was wounded during combat operations when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED). This injury led to a new journey into triathlon racing.

Eric shared his story from the military to the finish line. Also, he presented the habits we can use to embrace life’s challenges. When not training and speaking, Eric can be found with his family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

What are the Challenges in Relocation?

Eric described many challenges he faced, including learning a new career and finding his inner strength to complete his first Iron Man Triathlon in 2013, held in Hawaii. His story was insightful, and he was given a standing ovation by the grateful attendees.

In relocation, the challenges may not be as daunting as learning a new career or competing in a triathlon. However, an experienced Relocation Management Company (RMC) will have the knowledge and expertise to help your company excel at overcoming challenges in your relocation program.

Overcoming Challenges to a Location

Your company may have several locations. What if one of the locations is in a remote or challenging area? Helpful information about the location will be key for new hires and transferees to make the decision to relocate. Our global relocation experts present five specific tips to help move employees to remote and challenging locations:

1. Pre-Decision Services Including Candidate Assessment and Expectations
2. Community Tour of the Location During Interview
3. Include the Family
4. Offer Spousal or Partner Assistance
5. Destination and Video Spotlights for Challenging Locations

Using these five tips can help a company communicate the many benefits new hires and transferees can expect with their relocation.

Recruiting Top Talent in a Tight Job Market

Talent acquisition can be challenging for any organization. During a tight job market, competition for qualified candidates makes recruitment efforts even more difficult. Overcoming challenges in talent acquisition during a tight job market is key to an organization’s ability to grow and meet strategic corporate objectives. Several points in relocation can help companies recruit top talent:

1. Leverage Social Media
2. Pre-Decision Services to Identify Concerns and Issues Prior to Relocation
3. Leverage Relocation Package in the Hiring Process
4. Policy Exceptions for Relocation Packages
5. Increase Compensation Where Necessary for Highly Skilled Talent

Beyond the challenges of a tight job market, industries facing a skills gap also benefit from these tactics. Global relocation to fill positions requiring a high level of skill has become a solution for several industries including healthcare and information technology services.

Overcoming Challenges in Retaining New Hires

As difficult as it is to acquire talent, companies must address retaining new hires and overcoming challenges that result in failed relocations. In our newly published Case Study on Educational Institution Relocation Programs, we note several reasons why our client, a university, was losing new hires.

The overarching challenges for our client located in a small city in the eastern part of the United States:

Spouses were feeling left out of the decision-making process. As a result, many dual career couples that moved to the campus had a difficult time adapting if there was no job for the spouse. Also, recruiters could not help the hiring manager determine how to budget for the relocation. The institution’s decentralized approach provided no insight as to the overall relocation spend across the university.

Our team identified seven specific points for our client’s relocation program:

1. Act as the university’s knowledgeable partner
2. Provide superior local area information to highlight desirable aspects of the area
3. Engage with candidates during pre-decision
4. Create full accounting and tracking systems
5. Implement satisfaction surveys
6. Measure time for acceptance rates before and after program
7. Provide information on all aspects of the relocation including tax impacts

By creating a relocation program that covers all of these points, our client experienced a measurable increase in new hire retention and transferee satisfaction. They also experienced a reduction in overall relocation costs. Overcoming challenges in new hire retention helps organizations direct more resources toward their strategic objectives.

What Does This Mean?

Companies faced with overcoming challenges in their relocation programs should examine the areas that will improve their transferee’s experience. By enhancing their relocation programs, companies will be more successful in recruiting talent, retaining new hires, and moving employees and their families to challenging locations.

What Should Employers do When Overcoming Challenges?

Companies should work with an experienced and knowledgeable Relocation Management Company (RMC). RMCs provide a wealth of solutions for overcoming challenges in relocation programs. Companies should review their relocation programs. This will help ensure they have a competitive advantage. Also, it will ensure their program provides the highest level of relocation benefits and services for their employees.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients in overcoming challenges with relocation. As a result, our team can help your company understand how to move transferees to challenging locations. We can also help your company recruit top talent in a tight job market and retain new hires.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a “.com.” The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation^® technology platform.

Global Mobility Solutions is proud to be named and ranked #1 Overall, and #1 in Quality of Service by HRO Today’s 2019 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Contact our experts online to discuss overcoming challenges in your company’s relocation program, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.