Relocating an employee is an investment. Whether you’re hiring a new employee from another state or transitioning an existing employee to another office location, corporate moves can cost up to $25,000 for an employee who rents and up to $80,000 for a homeowner.
On top of the hard costs of the move, you also have to consider the soft costs from lost productivity when you manage talent mobility in-house. An HR manager will likely have to serve as a liaison between the small business relocation vendors and the employee on top of their existing work, while procurement professionals have to negotiate and manage contracts with multiple vendors.
These costs exist even if you only move one to two employees per year. It is worth working directly with a moving company or outsourcing your corporate moving services, no matter how big or small your company is, for the convenience of a single point of accountability and the ability to maximize your budget.
Whoever is responsible for managing talent mobility in-house is likely to be under a lot of stress. They have to juggle contracts, budgets, policies and timelines for multiple vendors while constantly keeping the moving employee updated. If any issues arise from one vendor, it can create a chain reaction of timelines falling apart as the HR manager or procurement leader chases down all of their contacts to readjust. This is an incredible loss of productivity for anyone involved, especially at a smaller company where each employee may already be wearing multiple hats.
If smaller businesses choose to let the employee manage their own move, whether by offering a lump sum or not providing any assistance at all, you’re stacking stress on top of the already stressful situation of moving. Having to look for a new home in an unfamiliar place, find their own movers and realtors and get their family settled with limited support does not give the employee a great first impression of their new employer. All of these stressors also distract the employee rather than enabling them to focus on their new role.
By partnering with a corporate moving partner, companies of any size benefit from gaining a single point of accountability for the entire moving process. All aspects of the move are managed by one person who oversees the timeline and all vendor relations. Operations are simplified, and time-intensive tasks are removed from the plates of your HR and procurement teams.
No matter how big your company is, managingsmall business relocation logistics yourself can be difficult. Some common challenges you and your team may face include:
If your HR and procurement team is responsible for managing budgets, resources, and moving timelines, they'll have less time to focus on their workplace responsibilities. This can lead to unwanted stress for employees.
Planning and executing a move for two or more employees is a time-consuming process. Your HR managers and procurement team will be responsible for managing communication with vendors, communicating with employees, and tracking budgeted expenses. Juggling all of these tasks on top of work can lead to unwanted project delays.
If you decide against outsourcing your corporate relocation tasks to a reliable partner, you'll need to ensure you have resources to provide your team with hands-on support. Support and transparent communication are necessary to help manage the stress and emotions involved with relocating. A lack of support can impact employee satisfaction and workplace productivity over time.
There are many worthwhile benefits to outsourcing corporate moving services. When you decide to work with a reliable partner, you can look forward to:
With a corporate partner, you'll have a single point of contact you can rely on. They'll handle all corporate relocation logistics of your move, so you can focus on the workweek.
With a corporate relocation partner, you'll have someone dedicated to finding the best possible rates for the move. They can negotiate with vendors, explore bundled offers, all while keeping expenses below budget.
Companies that offer corporate moving solutions understand the ins and outs of relocating. With their expertise and experience on your side, you can minimize risk and streamline the process.
A dedicated point of contact will provide your team with peace of mind throughout the transition. They'll have someone to rely on for all move-related tasks, so you don't need to worry about the move impacting their work ethic.
Cost is one of the main reasons smaller companies don’t think they need to outsource their employee relocation. So, if they choose to offer support for a corporate move, most companies are likely to only offer a lump sum package with the assumption that it controls costs and reduces administrative work. However, without proper management, there are a few downsides to the lump sum approach.
First, the whole moving process might take longer or become more frustrating as the employee has to figure out all the details of their move under a limited budget. Second, the employee may choose a move broker or a rogue moving company that will lead to a disastrous move. Third, the stress and frustrations can escalate if the employee discovers that the funds aren’t enough to cover their entire move. And finally, since employees do not need to account for how the lump sum is spent, companies have no way to know if the budget is appropriate.
When managed effectively by a corporate moving service, lump sum relocation packages can work. A provider can direct the employee to trusted vendors who fit within their budget, open access to discounted rates on services the provider has connections with and keep in touch with the employee through every step to avoid confusion and frustration.
No matter how small your organization is or how many corporate moves you anticipate in a given year, working with an experienced, reputable corporate moving partner can ensure time and cost savings for your business and a positive experience for your employees.
Allied Van Lines has been managing corporate moves of all sizes for 95 years with the support of our parent company, Sirva, Inc. As a single-source, direct-delivery provider with one of the largest national moving company networks, we can offer better quality control and security, greater transparency, cost savings and a more seamless experience from planning to implementation. Compared to managing all the components of a move yourself or subcontracting with multiple suppliers, our process has reduced overall program administrative costs by up to 82%. Learn more.
Ready to invest in reliable corporate moving solutions? Here's a quick overview of frequently asked questions about these services.
Tons of resources and time go into planning a successful corporate relocation for employees. When you leave your internal team in charge of managing the moving timeline and the logistics, they'll have less time to dedicate to their jobs.
Outsourcing corporate moving services can improve the experience for everyone involved. A reliable partner has the skills and knowledge needed for a stress-free experience, so you can get more time to focus on what you do best.
You'll want to consider your goals, budget, and relocation needs. Decide how much assistance you plan to offer your employees so you can develop a moving plan that provides value to your team while staying below budget.
Yes, outsourcing corporate moving services can improve employee satisfaction and keep your team productivity during the workweek.
You'll want to choose a reliable partner that understands the unique challenges of employee corporate relocations. Read customer reviews and testimonials to determine if the company is a good fit for your needs. You'll also want to meet with the service provider and familiarize yourself with their offerings to see if they are a good fit for the job.
