How to overcome an employee denying a relocation assignment
It is no secret that most people are creatures of habit. Moving to a different city or country may sound fun in theory, but when it comes down to it, most are still deciding whether to leave their comfort zone. Here are some common reasons why employees don’t want to relocate for work. If your employee seems reluctant about accepting a relocation assignment, you may want to find ways to make the offer more tempting. Take their concerns into account and try to win them over by negotiating and including a competitive relocation package that provides full-service mobility programs.
Prioritizing Family
One of the most common reasons why employees don’t want to relocate for work is family. The move will affect everyone if the employee is married with children. If the kids are small, the transition can be done more efficiently. However, if the employee’s children are older, it may be challenging to yank them out of their environment. They will be against leaving behind their friends, school, neighborhood, football team, or drama club. In addition, the other spouse may also have an important work commitment they cannot abandon. All in all, it may be pretty challenging to get this employee on board with the relocation.
To make the offer more attractive, create relocation programs that include benefits for spouses and children. A health plan, school options, and similar incentives may make the offer more appealing.
Not Wanting to Deal with the Hassle of Moving
No matter how you look at it—moving is a big undertaking. Just to start, the employees need to sell their homes and deal with the hassle that comes along with that. That hurdle alone would deter most people at the get-go. Not to mention the ever-changing housing market, that the home sale can end up losing them money. And this is just scratching the surface. Even if they manage, they must pack all their belongings and move them to the new location. Moving advisors from Master Moving Guide say that one of the more stressful parts of moving is having to deal with switching utility providers, updating all of the information at the new location, and many more bureaucratic tasks that come with the move. It is no wonder that some employees may give up at the thought of having to go through all that, especially if they have had an experience with a similar task recently.
The Cost of Living and the Pay Do Not Add Up
The relocation needs to make sense for the employee in more ways than one. In addition to the hassle and turning their lives upside-down, they need to have an incentive in the form of pay. And even if that seems like a good deal, what if the cost of living is higher in the new location? The employee must weigh all the options and conduct proper research before deciding. If the pay raise does not cover the increased cost of living posed by the new location, they are unlikely to accept the offer.
Relocating employees needs to come with great benefits, a significant pay raise, and an evident opportunity for future promotions. If the employee sees that the move is disorganized, in the spur of the moment, and at a professional dead-end, they will be more inclined to stay put. Finding a higher-paid job where they are will seem like a much better compromise.
Work with GMS to Relocate Employees
Although a move may seem like an adventure and a new leaf for some employees, many will not be thrilled by the idea of relocating. Many employees don’t want to relocate for work because they are not tempted enough by your offer. Weigh all your options and ways to keep those employees essential to your business. If they are someone who has proven to be an asset to your company, ensure you offer them a relocation package that will make long-term sense for them and their family.
At Global Mobility Solutions (GMS), our employees are top service providers in the mobility industry. We know first-hand that relocating for a job can be a scary thought for many employees. But working with us to create comprehensive relocation programs can help the move look more appealing to employees.
And when working with GMS, we assign a specialized relocation coach to each employee. The coach ensures that the relocation process can be as smooth as possible for them and their family.
Schedule a free consultation today if you are ready to update your current relocation policies or create new packages altogether. One of our relocation experts will meet with you to hear all of your needs and wants. From there, we will be able to understand your relocation needs better and execute them.
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Sam Hoey | CRP, GMS
Senior Vice President, Global Account Management Sam joined Global Mobility Solutions in 1996 and has a unique perspective with her 25 years of industry experience. Samantha offers her clients relocation expertise and a commitment to excellence in her. Her proficiency in orchestrating the BVO and GPO Programs, as well as relocation policy design and implementation, are invaluable assets to the accounts she manages. Her experience in administering Pre-Decision Relocation services to enhance the recruiting process further demonstrates her unique abilities to service her clients. Samantha’s diverse experience, leadership, and outstanding communication skills enable her to manage the relocation process for her clients with finesse and polished professionalism.
