Relocating employees abroad isn’t as simple as it may sound. As well as sorting the obvious like visas, there are lots of other considerations employers need to take into account. Drawing up terms of the relocation is an important first step, as is setting a relocation budget. As well as these practical elements, there are also personal factors to take into account. Will your employee be moving their family with them? Will you need to help find schools for children?
All this must be factored in at the outset to ensure the relocation is a success for everyone.
However, when time is tight, managing these details can feel overwhelming. That’s where professional movers come into play, offering invaluable assistance for last-minute relocations. These experts are equipped to handle everything from packing and transport to coordinating storage solutions, ensuring a seamless transition even on a compressed timeline.
With their help, employers can focus on the bigger picture, confident that the physical aspects of the move are in capable hands. Whether it’s a planned relocation or a sudden need to relocate, professional movers provide the efficiency and peace of mind necessary to make the process as stress-free as possible.
A successful employee relocation is down to planning the move, setting a budget and researching cultural differences. Here, we joined forces with the team over at My Baggage to give you their top tips on relocating employees abroad.
1. Terms of the relocation
The terms of the relocation need to be made clear from the outset. This will cover where the employee is relocating to, for how long, whether they’re going alone or with family members, whether it will change their working terms and what costs they will be responsible for. These must be in place if the project is to be a success.
2. Setting a budget
There needs to be a budget in place to cover all the factors you’ve agreed in the terms of the relocation. There could be additional costs you and your employee need to be aware of including health insurance, language lessons and school fees for children.
3. Insurance policies
Your employee will need travel and health insurance in place to move overseas. Insurance for their new home is important and they need to check other policies, including car and life insurance, are valid while they’re out of the UK.
4. Research
Before your employee jets off, encourage them to do some homework on their destination. Joining expat forums and reading blogs is a great place to start and will help them make some personal and business connections before they go.
5. Cultural differences
It’s worth looking into the cultural differences to avoid any awkward situations on arrival. Researching business etiquette, business dress and traditional working hours is a good place to start. Looking into local customs, dress, law and regulations are also important. They could be very different to those in the UK and Europe.
6. Families and partners
Moving abroad will have an impact on your employee and their family. A partner may also have to find a job and schools for children. Offer all the support you can. Their happiness is essential to the move being a success.
7. Finding a home
Whether they’re going for a few months or years, your employee will need somewhere to live. Consider hiring a professional home finder to do the work for you. They’ll have an inside track on the best places to rent or buy and will be able to sort all the legalities and paperwork on your behalf.
