Assistance for the Relocating Family

Companies focus their relocation policies on employee needs, of course, but it is no surprise that the needs of spouses, partners, children, and pets should also be considered during the moving process. By offering the right set of destination and ancillary services, you can ensure a successful arrival and acclimation to the new community for the employee and their accompanying family members. NuCompass Vice President of Global Operations, Lorrie Kaiser, suggests that in addition to standard Destination and Settling-In Services, Spouse/Partner Assistance, Cross-Cultural Training, and Language Training are important areas to consider when transferring an employee to a new area.

What are Destination Services?

The focus of Destination Services is to acquaint an employee and their family with the local living conditions and work environment. The major goals are to:

• Secure housing that fits the employee’s needs and budget
• Assist with school selection/placement applications
• Provide area orientation for day-to-day living
• Ensure basic local compliance

In addition, a core service that is often offered in conjunction with destination services is Settling-In Services. This includes assistance with opening a bank account, driving documentation, and social security application. These services help the family quickly acclimate to the new area.

What other services can help a family settle quickly into a new area?

There are a number of service components that can be included in a policy to aid in the transition process for employees and their families. To help families adapt to their new environment, Kaiser states that many companies also include these services in their relocation policies:

• Spouse/Partner Assistance. This service offers support for an employee’s spouse or partner and can include career search and educational advancement. In addition to traditional job search, services also apply to entrepreneurship, gig work, consulting, remote work, or active retirement. Integration services also provide support to help the entire family make the most of the new assignment.
• Cross-Cultural Training. Cultural preparedness is an essential part of ensuring an employee’s success in their new assignment, and the same is true for families. The focus of these services is to acquaint the family with the host country’s culture and to heighten self-awareness of personal cultural traits and behaviors. This training teaches families how to adapt successfully to living and working in the host culture. Courses are recommended for both pre- and post-relocation. The structure, length, and depth of the courses vary and should be evaluated based on length of the assignment and the family’s needs and experience.
• Language Training. This service is commonly offered if there is a language difference between the home and host countries. The focus is to help the employee and family develop functional language skills to communicate with co-workers, clients, neighbors, and other local citizens.

Takeaway

While relocating to a new job can be a stressful time for employees, it can be equally stressful for their partners, children, and pets. By offering destination and ancillary services that include the entire family, companies are able to relieve some of that stress and make the process more efficient and even more enjoyable. It’s important to remember that while the company hired an employee, they are moving an entire family.