Relocations in the Corporate World
Who handles corporate relocations in your company?
Is there a dedicated team or is it an additional task added to an already busy HR person or PA?
Do your in-house staff members have the appropriate skill levels and contacts in all the many facets of a relocation project, or do they just ring around at the last minute for the “best” local price!
What is the “real cost” to you and your organisation in time and money by doing it in-house? No full time staff have spare time in today’s business world, so a relocation project can add stress and extra workload that may be actually costing your company money and raising your cost of doing business.
Remember, relocation companies and their team of experts are only a phone call away from you; they are there 24 hours a day to assist your employee and their family to achieve a smooth transition.
To assist the executive, and equally as important their family, most corporations use a professional relocation company.
When choosing a relocation company, bear in mind the following points. Do you want:
- Someone you feel comfortable working closely with?
- A company flexible enough to fit in with your company standards?
- A company that understands your requirements?
- A company capable of tailoring programmes to suit your needs?
- A company that understands the needs of your transferees and their families?
Some corporations use the one global supplier thinking the costs will be reduced but this isn’t always the case. Often global suppliers use very rigid programmes that don’t suit the Australian real estate market or fit in with Australian regulations or lifestyle and will charge for additional programmes to cater for these needs. If you use an Australian based relocation company you will find their programmes are designed to suit Australian requirements.
In Australia our real estate agents do not act as a relocation company as in other parts of the world. Reputable relocation companies also do not accept commissions or payment of any type from either real estate agents or landlords.
The main role of a relocation company is to assist the transferee to find suitable housing and schools for their children, but as there are numerous issues to sort through for most families you really need a total relocation management company to arrange everything from A to Z. This includes assisting with the day to day settlement issues everyone incurs in a new country or city and also overseeing the transportation of personal items and household goods. By using the one relocation company to manage the total move, corporations find it takes the pressure off an already busy HR department in the destination city and makes for a smoother relocation.
For a professional relocation company one of the most important areas to ensure successful relocations is to understand the needs of the corporation, their relocation policy, the transferee’s needs and to build a close working relationship with the HR department or the person controlling relocations.
Discussion with your relocation company is vital to express your needs and expectations and review your relocation policy.
Prior to relocating, the transferee should be advised by your HR department of the assistance they can expect to receive from the relocation company in the destination city. Then the relocation company takes over and contacts the transferee. The rest is organised with them through detailed discussions with the transferee to clarify their needs and expectations – prior to arriving in the destination city.
A good relocation company will always keep the HR contact up to date throughout the relocation process and become an extension of the HR department, working within the company’s guidelines and budgets.
As a corporation, it is also necessary to ensure the same standard is maintained for all relocations. A national company with international affiliates ensures your staff are being assisted with the same level of service no matter where in the world they are transferred to.
To achieve consistent relocations you need to ensure:
- You develop a good relationship with your relocation company
- Your relocation company specialises in a variety of services
- You use a flexible relocation company
- Your relocation company can deliver the services you need without charging you for parts of a programme you don’t need
- Your relocation company can do what they say they can do, and then a bit more
Article by Assured Relocations
Suite 35, 1740 Pacific Highway
Wahroonga NSW 2076
Phone: 61 2 9489 1080
www.assuredrelocations.com.au
