Category: Global Relocation

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Global Mobility Solutions Expands Headquarters

Phoenix Arizona city skyline at dusk, showing a beautiful city destination for companies considering a 2020 Phoenix Relocation

Scottsdale Mayor kicks off the headquarters expansion celebration

Headquarters Expansion – Global Mobility Solutions (GMS), a leader in corporate relocation solutions and technology, held an Open House Wednesday, September 20th, to celebrate its headquarters expansion.

The Open House ran from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Guest of Honor was Jim Lane, the Mayor of Scottsdale, performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially commemorate the new office.

Global Mobility Solutions ribbon-cutting ceremony. (From left to right) Rich Ganley, GMS Founder and Board Member; Steven Wester, GMS President and Board Member; Jim Lane, Mayor of Scottsdale; Mark Hiegel, President and CEO of Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce; Steve Ziomek, GMS Founder, Designated Broker, and Board Member.
Global Mobility Solutions ribbon-cutting ceremony. (From left to right) Rich Ganley, GMS Founder and Board Member; Steven Wester, GMS President and Board Member; Jim Lane, Mayor of Scottsdale; Mark Hiegel, President and CEO of Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce; Steve Ziomek, GMS Founder, Designated Broker, and Board Member.

GMS president, Steven Wester, praised his staff and network partners for their role in the expansion, and stated that the company shows no sign of slowing its growth.

“This is a big milestone for Global Mobility Solution. Not only are we celebrating our thirtieth anniversary this year, but to expand by fifty percent is a testament to all our wonderful employees.” Mr. Wester continued, “This growth is also attributed to innovative technology solutions and our strong client partnerships.”

Mayor Lane stated, “It’s always great to see success here in Scottsdale.” The Mayor reminisced, “In this particular case, thirty years ago, I had a consulting company and these guys were my clients. So,” said the smiling Mayor, “I take a little bit of responsibility for their success.”

Mark Hiegel, President and CEO of the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, also provided some words of congratulations before Mr. Wester invited the guests to tour the office and enjoy the food and beverages.

This event provided an excellent opportunity for clients and network partners to meet the individuals with whom they do business, and for neighboring companies to learn about Global Mobility Solutions.

About Global Mobility Solutions

Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solutions is a relocation management company that specializes in supplier management and relocation program development. The company’s relocation services include global assignment management and domestic relocation management, as well as a range of pre-decision solutions and relocation technology applications. To learn more about how Global Mobility Solutions can help you with your relocation management, contact us now.

 

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Germany Implements ICT Directive

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Will you or your transferees be affected?

What has changed?

Effective immediately, Germany Implements ICT Directive – the German parliament has implemented an ICT Directive which intends to regulate the conditions for entry and residence of thirty-country nationals within the intra-company transfer (ICT) process.

Who is affected?

  • Employees working at the same group of companies for at least six (6) months being sent to Germany on an intra-company transfer
  • Employees working at the same group of companies for less than six (6) months intending to be sent to Germany on an intra-company transfer
  • Clients transferring employees to the same group of companies from another EU country to Germany

What to expect

The ICT Directive provides two different categories: firstly, third-country nationals who want to enter Germany directly from their home country (third-country); secondly, third-country nationals who already hold an ICT residence permit in another European Union (EU) Member State and are transferred to Germany for short or long-term transfer within the same group of companies.

The law divides it as follows:

1) ICT card for intra-company transferred workers (third-country nationals) must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Transfer must take place within the same company group
  • The employee must be either a leader (e.g. manager with leading function) or a specialist
  • Employee must have been with the company for at least six (6) months
  • The transfer must be for more than ninety (90) days, but cannot exceed three (3) years
  • An approval from the Federal Employment Agency must be obtained in advance
  • For the duration of the transfer, the assignee must have a valid assignment contract with his/her home employer and return to the home entity after the transfer
  • The remuneration (salary and monetary benefits) and working conditions (working time, leave, wage advancement in case of illness, etc.) must be comparable with a local employee

2a) Short-term mobility for intra-company workers (third-country nationals) must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Application in Germany up to ninety (90) days within 180 days
  • The assignee has a valid residence permit issued by another EU Member State pursuant to the ICT Directive
  • Proof that the domestic branch office belongs to the same company/group
  • Must have a valid passport
  • Confirmation on the entitlement to enter and residence for the purpose of intra-company transfer issued by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge BAMF)

2b) Mobile ICT Card must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Transfer must take place within the same company/company group
  • The assignee must either be a leader (e.g. manager with a leading function) or a specialist
  • The assignee has a valid residence permit issued by another EU Member State according to the ICT Directive
  • The transfer is for more than ninety (90) days
  • An approval from the Federal Employment Agency must be obtained in advance
  • For the duration of the transfer, the assignee must have a valid assignment contract with his/her home employer and return to the home entity after the transfer
  • The remuneration (salary and monetary benefits) and working conditions (working time, leave, wage advancement in case of illness, etc.) must be comparable with a local employee

If the application was submitted at least twenty (20) days before the start date of the assignment and the assignment has already been submitted to the authorities of the other EU Member State on the first application, the stay and assignment in Germany will be allowed for a period of up to ninety (90) days before the decision was made by the German authorities.

Please note there will be a period of transition as Germany Implements ICT Directive and the authorities will need some time to get use to the new process. We anticipate having more details on the practical implementation and application procedures to share with you in the near future.

 

Modern Mobility Made Easy™

Planning ahead

To learn more about Germany Implements ICT Directive or any other issues that affect you or your mobile employees, be sure to speak with one of the Global Consultants at Global Mobility Solutions. From pre-decision to visa and immigration to language and cultural training, GMS has the award-winning programs and innovative technology to make relocating your employees and tracking their expenses simple and worry-free.

Request your complimentary Visa Program Assessment

Provided by Global Mobility Solutions network partner Emigra World News

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The Real Truth: Managed Cap vs. Lump Sum

Managed Cap vs Lump Sum – Key Things You Need to Consider

As a mobility manager, lump sum payments might seem like the fastest and easiest method of providing your employees with the funds they need to move. However, when looking at managed cap vs lump sum, lump sum payments come with their own unique set of problems. Some of the challenges include:

  • Transferees often left alone in the relocation process
  • No cost controls and often budgetary overages
  • Limited process or service structure
  • Non-taxable benefits are lost
  • Frustrated transferees mean elevated HR involvement and escalations

Fortunately, a managed cap program alleviates many of the problems associated with a lump sum. It also provides:

  • The desired simplicity and predictability of a lump sum program
  • Enhanced employee tax benefits, resulting in more dollars for relocation.

Let’s see the difference between a $15,000 lump sum payment and the same $15,000 from a managed cap program:

GMS-Managed-Cap-vs-Lump-Sum-Chart

A Winning Scenario

The Managed Cap Program provides the transferee with $4,351 more for relocation services!

 

Modern Mobility Made Easy™

What this means for you and your relocating employees

A Managed Cap program will ensure that your transferees get the most out of their relocation dollars and that you will reduce the amount of administrative burden dealing with exceptions. Global Mobility Solutions – a leader in mobility management since 1987 – has expert relocation consultants who understand how a Managed Cap program can benefit you and your company. Contact Global Mobility Solutions and learn how we can quickly implement a managed cap program custom-tailored for your needs. Request your complimentary managed cap program demo to see how much you can be saving.

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Top 5 European Relocation Destinations

Ariel view of London
London, England - Panoramic aerial skyline view of London including Tower Bridge with red double-decker bus, Tower of London, skyscrapers of Bank District and other famous skyscrapers at golden hour

Which countries are attracting the most transferees?

While the United States is still the world’s top destination for relocation, there are still many companies relocating employees to work in Europe. A recent study of large corporations, that included the data of over 160,000 relocations covering 150 countries, revealed the Top 5 European Relocation Destinations for relocation.

London-England-White-Tag

#1 – United Kingdom
It is no surprise that the UK tops the list again. It’s long presence as a world financial center and home to headquarters of many large global companies makes the UK the leader in importing assignees and new hires. The fact that it is an English-speaking country allows for an easy transition for transferees from most countries. Cities like Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and London are top destinations for relocation assignments.

Zurich-Switzerland-White-Tag

#2 – Switzerland
Switzerland has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Home to the headquarters of many Fortune 500 corporations like Zurich Insurance, Novartis, UBS AG, and, of course, Nestle, this small nation is big on jobs. The four official languages of Switzerland are French, German, Italian, and Romansh. However, some say the fifth, though unofficial, language is English, Transferees on assignment from the United States should have no problem conversing and conducting business in Switzerland.

Amsterdam-Netherlands-White-Tag

#3 – Netherlands
The Netherlands has one of the lowest rates of unemployment in Europe, and when combined with the 30 percent tax-free allowance available to people moving to work in the Netherlands, makes the country an attractive work destination. There is little to no culture shock when moving to the Netherlands from another Western country. Almost everyone is tolerant of non-Dutch speakers and has been taught to speak English from a young age. They also have an inclusive culture that isn’t materialistic, in which employers, employees and people of all ages socialize.

Berlin-Germany-White-Tag

#4 – Germany
Germany’s job market is strong and the country’s working conditions are very good. The much-prized apprenticeship program has helped keep youth unemployment down. In contrast to many other countries, vocational education is properly valued in Germany and manual professions are considered equally prestigious as desk jobs. Germany is well-structured country with specific rules which makes living and working very organized. However, life is not all toil in the country. Germans know how to have fun, too. The country boasts an excellent work-life balance. Currently, Dresden has outpaced Berlin as the hot real estate location.

Dublin-Ireland-White-Tag

#5 – Ireland
Ireland is leading the tech boom in Europe. Practically all of the biggest tech and pharma companies in the world, including Google, Facebook, Apple, and Twitter, have their European HQs in Ireland. People in Ireland take their vacations seriously. It is customary for companies to offer 20 days of annual leave and they really want employees to use them. Housing is available for any budget. Those coming from the United States will feel very little culture shock as the people in Ireland are extremely accommodating and speak English. This beautiful country boasts great festivals, manic sports fans, and world-class educational institutions. Dublin is rapidly becoming a strong economic center, not only for Europe, but for the world.

Modern Mobility Made Easy™

What this means for you and your mobile workforce

If you plan on sending talent or importing talent to or from any of these Top 5 European Relocation Destinations, you will want to ensure that they are properly prepared. Global destinations spotlights offered by Global Mobility Solutions highlight the city information your transferees will need to know about their assignment locations. These guides will brief them on the city’s cost of living, arts and entertainment, visas and permits, schools, and other information necessary to adapt and be successful in their new country.

View the Global Mobility Solutions global spotlights now!

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Canada Making Changes to Citizen Act

Are you ready for the changes to the Canada Citizen Act?

The following information is important to all human resource and mobility managers that work in Canada and are looking to hire and relocate talent from other countries. This does not pertain to short-term assignments during which an employee might simply retain the citizenship of their country of origin. This matters to those who you will be onboarding for full-time work in Canada and where the employee hopes to make a permanent home in your country.

What has changed?

Fundamental changes to the Canada Citizen Act (or “Citizenship Act”) were announced on June 19, 2017. The changes were made to reduce previously existing barriers to citizenship and eliminate potential differential treatment of dual citizens. Certain changes will be effective immediately, whereas others will be implemented later on this year.

Who is affected?

  • Dual citizens in Canada
  • Individuals applying to Canada for citizenship, including minors without a Canadian parent

What to expect

Highlights of the immediate changes include:

  • Dual citizens living in Canada who are convicted of crimes such as treason, spying, and terrorism offences will no longer face revocation and will instead be subject to the criminal justice system, as with all Canadian citizens who face criminal charges
  • Intention to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship is no longer required, thereby allowing citizens flexibility and movement for personal reasons
  • Minors can now apply for citizenship without a Canadian parent, as the age requirement for citizenship has been removed
  • Statelessness has been added as a stand-alone ground that can be considered for a discretionary grant of citizenship
  • Reasonable measures to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities will now be considered
  • Citizenship will not be granted to individuals serving conditional sentences

Changes Expected to Take Effect in Fall 2017

  • Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three (3) out of five (5) years before applying for citizenship (as opposed to four (4) out of six (6) under the previous policy)
  • Applicants must file Canadian income taxes for three (3) out of five (5) years (as opposed to four (4) out of six (6) under the previous policy)
  • Applicants are no longer required to be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four (4) out of the six (6) years preceding their application
  • Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days
  • Applicants between fourteen (14) and fifty-four (54) years must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship (as opposed to eighteen (18) to sixty-four (64) under the previous policy)

 

Modern Mobility Made Easy™

Planning ahead

To learn more about the amendments to the Canada Citizen Act, or any other issues that affect you or your mobile employees, be sure to speak with one of the Global Consultants at Global Mobility Solutions. From pre-decision to visa and immigration to language and cultural training, GMS has the award-winning programs and innovative technology to make relocating your employees and tracking their expenses simple and worry-free.

 

Do your relocation policies align with the latest visa and immigration changes from around the world?

Request your complimentary Visa Program Assessment

Provided by Global Mobility Solutions network partner Emigra World News

 

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New Documentation Requirements for Household Goods Moves into the United Kingdom

The City of London, financial district of the Metropole, just after sunset with illuminated buildings and cloudy sky, United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has pushed forth changes and new regulations for shipping household goods to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The UK has implemented these changes, even though their exit from the European Union is not complete, thus making the old C3 (Relief) form no longer valid.

Now, in order to obtain Relief under the Transfer of Normal Residence (ToR) to the UK, a transferee and his or her personal effects need to meet the following criteria:

  • Transferee must have resided for at least 12 months in country of origin outside the EU, prior to shipment packing date
  • The consignment consists of all normal, household effects that have been used by the transferee for at least 6 months prior to shipment packing date.
  • Transferee is moving his or her normal home to the UK
  • There are no effects which would be liable to duty or tax
  • The effects are expected to arrive no more than 6 months prior or 12 months after the transferee’s arrival date in the UK
  • The transferee intends to reside and use all effects for at least 12 months in the UK

The Relief does not apply to:

  • Taxable or dutiable goods such as alcohol, tobacco, business materials
  • Furnishings from secondary home
  • Inheritance goods

In order to apply for tax relief on household goods, one must complete the ToR1 form, which can be obtained by visiting this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-transfer-of-residence-tor-relief-tor01 


Mobility Made Easy™
What this means for relocation managers and transferees

At Global Mobility Solutions (GMS), we strive to get you the latest information to help you relocate your mobile workforce from point A to point B as easily, efficiently, and stress-free as possible. The new rule for shipping household goods to the UK will determine what items are eligible for tax relief. This will affect the final cost of a relocation to the UK and can influence what a transferee may decide to bring along to his or her new assignment. Be aware, applying for the ToR takes a lot of time and goods can’t be imported without the ToR, so plan accordingly by speaking with your relocation management company and household goods providers.

To ensure that your relocation policies are up-to-date and take into account the new documentation requirements on household goods for the UK, ask for your complimentary policy review today!

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Global Mobility Solutions Named a Top Relocation Company

Phoenix Arizona city skyline at dusk, showing a beautiful city destination for companies considering a 2020 Phoenix Relocation

Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) is proud to be recognized by HRO Today as a top relocation company for the fourth year in a row. Every year, HRO Today compiles customer surveys and other data to produce their Baker’s Dozen list of the best relocation companies.

HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen rankings are based solely on feedback from buyers of the rated services; the ratings are not based on the opinion of the HRO Today staff. Feedback is collected annually through an online survey, which is distributed both directly to buyers through HRO Today’s own mailing lists and indirectly by sending service providers the link to send to their clients. Overall ranking is determined by analyzing the results across three subcategories: features breadth, deal sizes, and quality. Using a predetermined algorithm that weighs questions and categories based on importance, HRO Today calculates scores in all three subcategories as well as an overall score. The rankings are based on those scores.

The fact that our customers continually place GMS into the Baker’s Dozen list of top relocation companies speaks volumes with regard to our outstanding service, our breadth of programs, and the value that we bring to our clients.

To see how GMS can make your life with regard to workforce mobility easier, simply ask for a complimentary relocation policy review and our expert consultants will discuss how to improve acceptance rates, make assignments more successful, and make the whole process more cost-efficient.

Get your complimentary Relocation Policy Review today!

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Global Mobility Solutions Celebrates 30 Years of Relocation Success

A scene from Downtown Scottsdale at dusk with a canal and reflections in the foreground. Scottsdale is part of the Phoenix Metropolitan area.

Founded in 1987, Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) has been providing companies around the world with an array of innovative domestic and global relocation services. In the past thirty years, GMS has helped nearly 240,000 transferees for many companies in a variety of industries.

GMS has always been a leader in the relocation industry. From being the first to pioneer and perfect pre-decision programs to developing cutting edge online relocation tools, GMS is continually recognized for its breadth of solutions and world-class customer service by both clients and independent entities. GMS has been named to HRO Today’s “Baker’s Dozen” as one of relocation companies in satisfaction, quality and breadth of services for four years in a row. GMS has also recently been recognized as a 2017 LEAD Award winner for being both a top 10 company in the “Best Sales Leadership Program” category and a top 20 company in the “Best Global Leadership Program” category.

While GMS has been growing steadily since 1987, the company still places a high priority on giving back to the community. Working with its main charity, Move for Hunger, GMS helps donate food and money to local charities. GMS and its service partners donated have donated over 7,000,000 pounds of food, delivered to food banks across North America.

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Global Mobility Solutions Recognized as a Leader

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Leader Recognition – For the past 34 years, the LEAD Awards have identified and recognized organizations with the top leadership programs, strategies, and solutions with regard to global leadership development. These prestigious leadership awards salute the world’s top leadership practitioners and programs and highlight their roles in developing their most important asset – their people.

Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) was recognized as a leader for its excellence in leadership training and education. GMS placed in the top 10 of 100 companies for Best Sales Leadership Program and Top 18 of 200 for the Best Global Leadership Program.

 

Global Mobility Solutions a winner of Best Sales Leadership Program

Global Mobility Solutions a winner of Best Global Leadership Program

 

The competition was strong as GMS went up against such household names as 3M, Boston Scientific, Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, and many others. In fact, the other winners have a combined average annual revenue 453% larger than GMS and an average of 383% more employees. It is an honor and accomplishment to be recognized amongst such giants of industry.

 

Learn how GMS can help your transferees become leaders in their new destinations

Is your relocation program the best it can be? Receive your free relocation policy review.

 

About LEAD2017 LEAD2017 is a 2-day leadership forum, February 7th and 8th, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Music City Center. Designed to inspire leadership in people from all walks of life in person at the conference as well as live simulcast to hundreds of remote host sites internationally. The event brings together top thought leaders and the world’s best leadership practices that can be shared by attendees to develop leadership programs in their own organizations and communities http://www.lead2017.com/ February 8th will be broadcasted globally with the goal of touching 1 million lives to choose leadership.

About HR.com and the LEAD Awards HR.com, the largest global social networking and resource site for HR Professionals is committed to providing a deeper understanding of the HR function for over 290,000+ members by offering an annual global leadership annual event – LEAD, the LEAD Awards, HR Certification Exam Prep Courses, certification programs, a personal development app, monthly themed HR e-publications, 4,500+ webcasts, 1,200+ eLearning credits, 230+ virtual conferences, blogs, community networks, industry news and advisory boards. See www.hr.com for more information.

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Managing Mobility Costs

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Department heads all over the globe are constantly asked to identify cost-saving opportunities within their departments. Human resources, employee mobility, talent acquisition, and procurement are no exceptions. As you scrutinize your budget, try utilizing these three steps to help better manage and ultimately reduce your relocation expenses:

Cost Estimates

Managing mobility costs starts with understanding what those expenses are. First estimate what costs should be involved with your vision of a successful mobility program. A cost estimate will provide you with a clear picture of the potential costs of individual relocation assignments. You can then use these cost estimates to correctly establish a budget prior to initiating any relocations.

One effective way to determine your cost estimates is by utilizing cost estimate technology. There are many software programs that by using the latest upgrades will help you:

  • Save time
  • Reduce human error
  • Ensure compliance

Policy Reviews

By reviewing your relocation policies, either internally or with an outside relocation management company (RMC), you will be able to identify cost-saving opportunities and eliminate expensive exceptions. When reviewing your mobility management policies, you should:

  • Do so in conjunction with cost
  • Benchmark against other companies within your industry
  • Leverage technology for key services (i.e. Virtual destination tours, online school reports, etc.)

Example:

Using online language tools can reduce relocation costs by roughly $5,000 - $20,000.

Tracking and Reporting

Lastly, you want to ensure that you are continuously tracking all expenses and reporting any overages or savings. Get a detailed account of how your cost estimates match up with your actual spending. Then the whole process repeats itself. Once you have your data:

  • Take action – Make any necessary adjustments to your budget, policy, or both
  • Review – Go over the detailed reports to identify more cost-saving opportunities
  • Incorporate technology – Save time and money by offering key services online

Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) is an award-winning RMC and, since 1987, has been helping companies save time and money with regard to their corporate relocations. As a courtesy service, GMS will review your current relocation policies and provide expert feedback to ensure that your policies are competitive within your industry and to identify any cost-saving opportunities, so you can focus on managing mobility costs.

Click here for your free relocation policy review

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