How to Optimize Your Corporate Relocation Program for Efficiency

by Eric Reed on Sep 19, 2023

If you’ve ever moved, you know that relocation can be a complicated process with a lot of moving parts and details to keep track of. For businesses managing employee relocations, the work can quickly become an overwhelming and unmanageable task that eats into your bottom line. 

Because relocation benefits are a key way to strengthen your retention and recruitment strategies, tossing the responsibility of managing moves back to employees isn’t necessarily the best way to achieve an efficient relocation. Instead, take the time to flesh out a policy that benefits your employees and makes relocation management simpler for your team. Here’s how you can adjust your approach and achieve an efficient relocation:

Standardize the Process and Develop a Policy

Starting from scratch every time an employee relocates can cause unnecessary stress for everyone involved and even inflate your budget for the move. Developing a standardized, corporate relocation program can make the process more clear and consistent. This also helps remove the guesswork for your team and the moving employees alike, giving everyone a single reference point that covers every aspect of the process and addresses questions before they arise. 

Create a Written Relocation Policy

When developing acorporate employee relocation program, no detail is too small. Here are some things your policy should address:

  • How are moving expenses covered? Are employees reimbursed? Does the policy include a lump sum payment? Are all expenses covered by the company upfront or somewhere in between?
  • Who chooses the moving company? Is there a list of preferred vendors for the employee to choose from, or does the company have a preselected provider?
  • How are expenses tracked? If the employee needs to track and report moving expenses, provide expectations and clear guidelines.
  • Additional information to include: Expected timelines for moves, additional benefits for members of the employee’s family, and who they should contact if they have questions or concerns. 

Collaborate Across Departments

To create the most effective policy for your organization, it’s important to get input from the different departments involved with employee relocations. This is an opportunity for the procurement and HR teams to come together to develop a policy that benefits employees, simplifies the process and keeps the budget in mind. 

Provide Comprehensive Information Upfront

Beyond developing a written policy internally, it’s important to provide clear, comprehensive information to your relocating employees from the get-go. More communication upfront means fewer questions and less confusion down the line – saving you and your employee time and stress. 

Clear Communication

There’s no such thing as too much communication. To ensure your employees have the information they need and something to reference throughout the process, communicate relocation details verbally and in writing. You should also assign a point of contact for any questions to keep employees informed.

Detailed Guidelines

When developing a corporate relocation program, it's always best to be as detailed as possible. Creating detailed guidelines about the resources, support tools, and financial compensation packages will make the experience less stressful for everyone involved. It will also reduce back-and-forth communication between employees, your HR team, and the relocation coordinator, which will help eliminate workplace distractions.

Work With One Vendor for Consistent Service

When choosing an outside corporate relocation partner for employee relocations, work smarter, not harder. Rather than juggling multiple vendors, work with a relocation provider who can do it all under one contract. Not only can this help you achieve an efficient relocation,but working with a strong relocation provider gives you access to professional insights, quality, comprehensive support and a simplified line item in your budget that makes planning the financial aspect of your program less of a headache. 

Working with one vendor also helps to ensure that each of your employees receives a consistent experience and reduces the likelihood of unexpected costs, scams or differences in service quality.

For 95 years, Allied has been cementing our status as a leader in corporate and household moves. Our team is ready to provide you with the service and expertise you need to best support your employees. Learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Relocation Programs

Ready to optimize your corporate relocation program? We're here to help. We've gathered a list of frequently asked questions you can use to enhance your offerings and find a trustworthy corporate relocation vendor to help implement your policy.

What should be included in a corporate relocation policy?

A corporate relocation policy should include detailed guidelines about reimbursement policies, preferred corporate relocation vendors, and financial assistance programs. It should also have moving timeline details and information about the additional assistance available throughout the transition. 

How can clear communication improve the relocation process?

Clear communication will help you maintain transparency and improve employee satisfaction. The clearer you are about policies and guidelines, the less confusion there will be throughout the transition. It will also ensure your employees fully utilize all resources available throughout the relocation process.

Why is it beneficial to work with one relocation provider?

Working with one preferred corporate relocation provider can help streamline the entire transition. You'll have a single point of contact you can rely on to address concerns, manage costs, and oversee the moving timeline. This will help streamline productivity, improve communication, and ensure everything is handled for your employees. 

How can Allied Van Lines assist in optimizing a corporate relocation program?

Allied Van Lines is a top-rated corporate relocation moving company with hands-on experience helping businesses with local, long-distance, and international relocations. We're here to help you standardize your processes and provide your employees with hands-on support through every phase of the transition. 

What is the best way to manage relocation expenses?

If you have a tight budget for employee relocation services, consider a capped allowance financial assistance program. Moving costs are easiest to predict and budget with this approach.

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