The HR department has a lot to take care when the company starts relocating employees: administration, payroll, insurances for employees, hiring the right candidates … Is the company you are working for an international organization with establishments abroad? Then we suppose your job in HR is even more complicated, especially when employees are moving to locations outside the country and you are managing the employee relocation.
Relocating your employees, this is how it is done
Your company might already have branches in different countries or it could be opening a complete new branche at a new location abroad. One of the biggest challenges for an organization is finding the right people for the right jobs, especially in another country. Starting over is hard, and therefore many companies choose to move their experienced employees temporarily. This comes with some major advantages:
- An experienced employee becomes a manager in the new location to steer or train new colleagues
- It saves you a lot of time to relocate an employee compared to finding the perfect hire abroad
- Your employee can experience the international market and can estimate whether growth in the new location is possible
- It is the perfect way for your employees to build an international network
Are there employees in the company willing to move abroad for a while? Then it is time for the practical side of the story; a smooth (international) relocation!
A great preparation is the key to success for HR and for the colleague who is moving soon. There are things to arrange, from onboarding on the new job to finding the right housing solution, administrative arrangements and much more.
Going to a new location
Since the goal of the relocation is to fill a position at a new location, it is important for your employee to know what to expect. Make sure to clear out what the position is about, what the offices and the team will look like … It is important to have a clear onboarding process.
Make sure to arrange practical aspects as well, or at least to support your employee in arranging all those things. Below is a checklist for everything job-related to take into account:
- Adapt payroll administration if necessary
- Arrange insurances
- Arrange work permits
- Let your employer legalize their degree for the destination country if needed
- Get to know customs and habits or support the employees in learning a new language.
Looking for a home
As soon as everything is set for your employees' new position abroad you can help them finding the perfect temporary housing solution. There are two ways; the company could provide a budget for the relocation or you can help the employees find a good temporary house, especially if you want to be an engaged employer.
Helping to find temporary housing
Finding a temporary place to stay can, depending on the destination, be a real challenge. It is a great idea to find a local partner who can help the company look for great housing solutions in the future, especially if you plan to relocate more of your employees soon. They can provide the HR department and the moving employees with all the necessary information about the destination and practical concernings like rent and rental prices.
Always keep in mind that a comfortable rental place helps your employees and their families make them feel at home quicker.
Furnishing a temporary house
Finding a place is not the only thing to take care off, you will also need furnishment. Some apartments and houses can be rented with furniture. This way, your employees will not have to worry about furnishing the place themselves. A disadvantage of a furnished place? You do not get to choose the type and style of the furnishment, which could be a disappointment for some people.
Renting furniture
A good solution for furnishing a temporary place is renting furniture. This way, your employees will get to choose their own style of furnishment in every room without having to invest in new furniture. Did you know that even electrical appliances and kitchenware can be rented? When offering your employees the opportunity of renting furnishment for their temporary home, they will be able to decorate their new home themselves. That means more time to focus on their new position, the new destination and a great way to make them feel at home soon.
Renting furniture is a flexible solution; if your employee happens to stay longer than expected at the new location, the contract can easily be extended. If the company decides to relocate other employees afterwards, there is an option to buy the rented furnishment eventually. This way, you can provide every employee who moves abroad with a housing solution that suits their needs.
Discover our rental plans
Housing solutions abroad: a checklist
You can already tell; when prepared properly, finding a great housing solution for your employees should be nothing to worry about. Below is a checklist of things you could take care of as an HR officer or manager, whether you decide to arrange those things yourself or whether you support your employees in doing it their selves;
- Signing the rental contract
- Arrange administration; water, electricity, insurances, apply for domicile…
- Furnishing;
- Renting a furnished place
- Buying furnishment and electronical appliances
- Renting furniture and everything you need. Discover in which European locations In-Lease can help you out!
Getting all the paperwork ready for a relocation is probably something your employees are not looking forward to. Therefore, it is important to make efficient arrangements and provide them with a smooth relocation.
Visum & permits
Make sure to ask the moving employees about the expiration date of their passports and drivers licenses. If a partner and children are moving along, their documents need to be valid too. Help them to find out what kind of permits are necessary at the destination.
Insurances & health care
Expect the unexpected and make sure to arrange insurances just in case. Help your employees to get the right insurances for themselves and for their family. Let them check whether the health insurance at home covers medical expenses abroad as well. This way they could opt for additional insurances if recommended.
Banking
In case the temporary apartment or house will become your employees’ official address, it could be a good idea to have them opening a bank account abroad. In most countries, this is not a big deal, but it makes payments, debits… much more convenient.
Language
A language barrier could be a real challenge, for your employees and for their partner and kids. Help them out by providing language classes beforehand or on sight.
Children
When your employees are moving abroad, chances are their partner and children are moving with them. This adds some ‘to do’s’ to the list of your employee, but of course you can help with e.g. looking for schooling, daycare and sports associations.
Wellbeing
An international move can be considered as a practical and mental challenge for your employees and their families. As a company you can provide moving packages with tips and tricks to make them feel at home faster; learning a new language, getting in touch with people outside of work, doing fun things in their free time …
Managing a smooth employee relocation
When asking your employees to move abroad for work, there are a few things as a company or HR department you could do to show your engagement and to support your people as good as possible. We already mentioned the onboarding process, finding a good temporary housing solution and other practical obligations.
Freeing up a budget is a great way to support your employees abroad, but we also recommend that HR makes some arrangements; that is the key to success for managing a smooth employee relocation.
Let's relocate!
Opening a new branche abroad soon? Then you might be looking for a great partner to support you in finding the perfect housing solution for your employees.
At In-Lease we offer rental furniture in different European countries.
