Tag: Temporary Housing

Temporary Housing Solutions in Times of Crisis: 2020 California and Oregon Wildfires

Post author By Sam Hoey | CRP, GMS
Post date October 8, 2020

Woman sitting on floor, smiling, holding coffee cup, looking at large dog in in their temporary housing

Temporary housing solutions have applications beyond providing homes for transferees on short-term assignments. Recently GMS was contacted by several clients and prospective clients seeking assistance for employees displaced by the 2020 California and Oregon wildfires. Many of these employees lost their homes to fires or had to be evacuated to another location.

Each of the stories is heartbreaking for the employee and their family members. Ultimately, GMS was able to provide immediate assistance for everyone who called seeking temporary housing.

Sam Hoey, Senior Vice President, Business Development, oversaw the GMS response for our clients and prospects. Sam agreed to share the solutions that GMS implemented.

Traditional Temporary Housing Solutions

GMS recommends clients choose traditional temporary housing solutions for a number of reasons. Important criteria that are addressed with traditional solutions include:

Move-in Inspection covering several points
Cleanliness meeting specific standards
Emergencies and Maintenance Issues
Security Standards including the Wi-Fi System

Traditional temporary housing gives clients and employees peace of mind that these major areas of concern are taken care of down to the last detail.

Scope of Client’s Immediate Needs for Temporary Housing

Destruction from the 2020 California and Oregon wildfires is vast and widespread:

California

3,000 homes destroyed
100,000 evacuees displaced
Over 7,000 wildfires

Oregon

2,200 homes destroyed
40,000 evacuees displaced
500,000 residents under evacuation warning

The wide area of destruction spread over both states impacts many employees. In some cases, over 400 employees were displaced in just a few days, with many actually losing their entire homes. Employers seeking to help for their displaced employees contacted GMS to discuss how best to help those in need.

GMS Leverages Temporary Housing Solutions

After receiving requests for assistance, Sam sent the clients and prospects a clearly written communication. The instructions were to send the communication to their employees about who to contact at GMS for immediate assistance.
GMS set up every employee in need with a GMS Relocation Coach. The Coach assessed their needs, and in many cases then sent the request to a client-directed preferred temporary housing provider, ATB Housing.
A few cases required specialized responses. One employee displaced in Salem, Oregon, also had 4 large dogs. Instead of sending the dogs to a boarding kennel, GMS sourced a nearby fully furnished apartment for the employee on a 30 day rental basis.
Some employees preferred booking extended stay hotels instead of temporary housing for the time being since they did not know what insurance would be offering them for their specific cases. ATB Housing also arranged the hotel options for these employees.

What Does This Mean?

GMS has a team of experts that help clients address nearly any relocation issue, including an emergency request for temporary housing. Clients should work with a Relocation Management Company (RMC) that has extensive knowledge and experience in housing solutions for employees.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients understand how to respond to emergency situations and changing employee needs. Our team can help your company understand how to find appropriate temporary housing solutions during any type of local crisis, including wildfires.

GMS was the first relocation company to register as a .com. The company also created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation^® technology platform.

New SafeRelo™ COVID-19 Knowledge Portal

GMS recently launched its new SafeRelo™ COVID-19 Knowledge Portal featuring a number of helpful resources including:

Curated selection of news and articles specific to managing relocation programs and issues relating to COVID-19
Comprehensive guide to national, international, and local online sources for current data
Program/Policy Evaluation (PPE) Tool for instant relocation policy reviews

Learn best practices from Global Mobility Solutions, the relocation industry and technology experts. Contact our experts online to learn about temporary housing solutions for your employees, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Tags corporate relocation, domestic mobility, Domestic Relocation, employee relocation, Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions, Temporary Housing, Workforce Mobility, workforce mobility management

Domestic Relocation Domestic Relocation Challenges Domestic Relocation Tips Domestic Relocation Trends Relocation Best Practices Relocation Management Talent Management Talent Mobility

Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions: Covering All the Bases

Post author By Sam Hoey | CRP, GMS
Post date April 14, 2020

A group of doctors with face masks looking at camera, corona virus concept.

During the COVID-19 global pandemic, there is a dramatic rise in the need for healthcare corporate housing solutions. Many GMS clients in the healthcare industry suddenly find an increasing demand for a truly mobile workforce. These clients need to deploy their professional staff quickly and efficiently to several different locations.

Since GMS has many clients that already use corporate housing solutions, our team can implement a program almost instantaneously. This allows our client’s front line healthcare workers to focus on their immediate task and gives them peace of mind for their housing solution in a new destination.

What Do Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions Include?

Direct Experience and Metrics That Matter

Clients seeking healthcare corporate housing solutions should expect a coordinated approach to its housing needs. Solutions should include a very high-touch level of service quality to reflect the needs of the client’s employees. Providers should have direct industry experience with proven long-term results. Metrics such as a 100% client satisfaction rating are indicative of an industry-leading program. As such, this reflects unparalleled dedication to service and quality by the provider.

Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions: What are the Standard Services?

GMS leverages the strength of a multiple bid process to seek out housing choices among quality providers that meet clients’ budgetary restrictions and policy parameters. As a result, clients can save significantly on temporary living costs. Standard services include:

Domestic and Global Coordination
Auto Rental and Return Trip Management
Over 2 million properties worldwide
Fully Furnished Properties, with Utilities and Amenities
95% or Better Match Guarantee
Online Tours of Properties
Electronic Lease Paperwork
Roommate Matching (if needed)
Direct Billing Arrangements Available
Available Signature Services such as Housekeeping, Grocery Delivery, Houseware Packages, and Special VIP Services

GMS also coordinates, reserves, and arranges the direct billing of fully furnished apartments, unfurnished apartments, and extended stay units.

Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions: How Does the Process Work?

The general process for arranging temporary housing has three specific stages: Request, Reserve, and Completion. Each of these three stages follow a robust and client-focused set of steps designed to ensure client and transferee satisfaction.

Request

Client submits a request for temporary housing to GMS
GMS contacts the transferee to confirm the details and initiate the housing search
Client approves housing search results (optional)
GMS provides search results to transferee for selection

Reserve

GMS reserves the transferee’s housing selection
Lease documents and arrival instructions are sent to transferee (via DocuSign)
GMS Relocation Coach contacts transferee to confirm selection is to their satisfaction

Completion

Housing costs are directly billed to client on a monthly basis
GMS Relocation Coach contacts transferee monthly to confirm satisfaction and comfort
GMS Relocation Coach checks with client 30 days prior to housing term expiration to manage vacate or renewal
Transferee vacates housing property at expiration

What Does This Mean for Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions?

Employers seeking healthcare corporate housing solutions should work with a Relocation Management Company (RMC) that has the knowledge and experience to provide a full range of housing options across the entire housing process. RMCs should provide additional helpful programs such as Pre-Decision/Pre-Hire Services with needs-based counseling and mobility assessments, as well as Premier Travel Coordination throughout the entire relocation process.

Resources for transferees should include proprietary relocation technology, area tours, orientations, and virtual destination spotlights. All services should be provided either in-person or virtually, to suit the transferee’s need. By working together, we can all get through these rapidly changing times and help our healthcare workers to focus on what they do best—treating and helping patients to recover from COVID-19.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients with temporary housing solutions to meet their specific needs. Our mobility consulting team can help your company learn about the range of healthcare corporate housing solutions that provide the best options for the employer as well as its employees.

Learn more about healthcare corporate housing solutions from Global Mobility Solutions, the relocation industry and technology experts who are dedicated to keeping you informed and connected. Contact our experts online or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

Are you ready to talk to a Mobility Pro? Learn how GMS can optimize your mobility program, enhance your policies to meet today’s unique challenges, receive an in-depth industry benchmark, or simply ask us a question. Your Mobility Pro will be in touch within 1 business day for a no-pressure, courtesy consultation.

Tags Domestic Relocation, Domestic Relocation Trends, Domestic Short Term Assignments, employee relocation, Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions, Healthcare Industry, jobs, relocation best practices, Talent Management, Temporary Housing, US Economy, Workforce Mobility, workforce mobility management

Domestic Relocation Domestic Relocation Challenges Domestic Relocation Tips Domestic Relocation Trends Job Market Job Seekers Talent Mobility United States Economy

Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices: White Paper

Post author By Nancy Kritzer | CRP
Post date December 10, 2019

Businesswomen in their office having meeting. They are reviewing statistics report. Mature businesswoman holding report and they are talking about.

GMS has recently published a new white paper listing domestic short term assignments best practices and tax considerations. Companies are increasingly using these assignments for special projects, corporate initiatives, and business opportunities. By leveraging the willingness of current employees to accept domestic short term assignments, companies can respond to changing priorities quickly and efficiently.

What is a Domestic Short Term Assignment?

A domestic short term assignment is a temporary assignment or job that lasts for one year or less, according to IRS definitions. Often the company’s relocation policy is focused on benefits and programs for employees and family members moving to a new location. Transferees that accept domestic short term assignments will need a different range of benefits and support, since they will return to their home after the assignment is complete. They may need assistance with travel, temporary housing options, or transportation solutions while at the new location.

As a result, relocation programs should address the specific needs of transferees who take short term assignments. By following domestic short term assignments best practices, companies will accrue the greatest benefits, while transferees will receive the best experience.

Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices: 3 Examples

A review of domestic short term assignments best practices shows it is important to examine the transferee’s assignment experience in detail. Such a review will help the company manage costs and ensure the best experience for the transferee.

For example, three specific topics highlight the importance of domestic short term assignments best practices to address points that relocation policies usually do not address:

1. Return Trips During Assignments

Domestic short term assignments best practices for return trips is to provide two trips home for every 30 days of assignment. Relocation policies usually do not include a series of return trips home, since the transferee is relocating to the new location.

2. Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices for Local Transportation

Domestic short term assignments best practices for local transportation is to provide one of the following two options, whichever is lowest cost:

Short term leasing option
Shipment of transferee’s vehicle for duration of assignment

Note: longer term assignments should provide local rental vehicle

3. Property Management at Origin Location

Domestic short term assignments best practices for property management at origin is to offer this option to assignments greater than 6 months. Best practice includes making additional copies of keys and fobs for the property management team so you always have spare keys and fobs on hand if required. Options typically include the lowest cost of either:

Property management reimbursement or direct bill
Stipend or housing differential

What Does This Mean?

Companies should follow domestic short term assignments best practices. This will ensure they can obtain the greatest benefit from this approach while controlling costs. This will help the company be able to respond quickly to changing business priorities.

How Can Employers Learn About Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices?

Employers should work with a qualified and experienced Relocation Management Company (RMC) to learn about domestic short term assignments best practices. Companies should review their relocation policy to ensure it follows industry best practice for relocation benefits provided to employees who take domestic short term assignments.

GMS tailors each client’s program based on specific budgets, needs, and compliance. As a result, clients can offer an industry-leading relocation program designed to fully meet the needs of these employees. This helps ensure successful assignments and increases employee satisfaction.

Conclusion

GMS’ team of corporate relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients understand how to incorporate domestic short term assignments best practices into their relocation programs. Our team can help your company design a relocation policy that provides the best experience for employees during their temporary assignments.

Global Mobility Solutions is proud to be named and ranked #1 Overall, and #1 in Quality of Service by HRO Today’s 2019 Baker’s Dozen Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Contact our experts online to discuss how your company can learn more about domestic short term assignments best practices, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Tags Assignments Best Practices, domestic mobility, Domestic Relocation, Domestic Relocation Trends, Domestic Short Term Assignments, jobs, Temporary Housing, US Economy, Workforce Mobility

Corporate relocation tips Domestic Relocation Tips Global Relocation Challenges Global Relocation Tips Relocation Challenges Relocation Programs

Why Choose Traditional Temporary Housing?

Post author By Sam Hoey | CRP, GMS
Post date July 26, 2018

With all of the housing options available to you, why should you choose traditional temporary housing provided through a Relocation Management Company (RMC)? Newer providers like online “bnb” websites or rentals offered by owners seem to offer so much more flexibility to meet your travel needs. From studio apartments and lofts in artsy places, to luxurious vacation rentals, the supply of interesting and exotic abodes seems endless. Also, the draw of quick and easy rentals as well as anecdotal stories of great bargains make these places seem irresistible to savvy travelers and transferees alike. With so much to choose from, what could traditional temporary housing offer in comparison?

Before you book yourself and your family into a rental through online providers, look into these four specific areas to be sure the rental meets your full requirements:

1. Security Standards

Do you know if there is a security system at the location? Is the rental’s location in a safe and family-friendly neighborhood? What about the Wi-Fi System? Traditional temporary housing locations receive evaluations on several criteria. Employees must undergo background checks. Building security undergoes an assessment. Even if a rental location is advertised as having good security, or is claimed to be in a safe neighborhood, has this been verified? Do you know if the area changes character depending on the day or hour?

2. Cleanliness

Temporary housing must meet specific cleanliness and quality standards, and undergoes professional cleaning prior to rentals. Is this what you will find through an online rental provider? Travelers often see and remark on the differences in cleanliness standards among hotel chains. Do you know if there are any cleanliness standards at the online provider’s rental unit? Will you have to perform cleaning services yourself? How would you know if surfaces are clean and sanitary? Would you be able to determine if surfaces have simply been wiped down with a single cleaning rag throughout the entire rental unit?

3. Move-in Inspection

Traditional temporary housing provided by an RMC includes a full move-in inspection covering several points. This inspection is to ensure the renters can verify the state of the unit. They also have an opportunity to note any discrepancies within the rental paperwork before moving in to the unit. However, many online rental providers are not onsite to greet renters and may not offer a move-in inspection. As such, renters are often at risk if something is not in working order, missing, or broken, and they are unable to provide proof the item was in that condition prior to their moving in.

4. Maintenance and Emergencies

Traditional temporary housing provided by an RMC includes information and processes for renters to follow should any item require maintenance, or should an emergency arise. Major equipment receives maintenance and service on a regular schedule. However, online rental providers may not provide specific instructions and processes for maintenance. Also, they may not be in a position to assist the renters during emergencies. Major equipment may not be maintained by professionals on a regular basis. Also, there are usually no guarantees in place should the renter determine the unit no longer meets their needs even if major equipment does not work properly.

Conclusion

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients find traditional temporary housing that fully meets transferring employees and their family member’s requirements for security, cleanliness, and move-in readiness. As a result, we can help your company find the best temporary housing options for your relocation program. Contact our experts online or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Tags corporate relocation, Domestic Relocation, global relocation, Global Relocation Tips, relocation programs, Temporary Housing, workforce mobility management

Traditional Temporary Housing Solutions

Scope of Client’s Immediate Needs for Temporary Housing

California

Oregon

GMS Leverages Temporary Housing Solutions

What Does This Mean?

Conclusion

New SafeRelo™ COVID-19 Knowledge Portal

What Do Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions Include?

Direct Experience and Metrics That Matter

Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions: What are the Standard Services?

Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions: How Does the Process Work?

Request

Reserve

Completion

What Does This Mean for Healthcare Corporate Housing Solutions?

Conclusion

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

What is a Domestic Short Term Assignment?

Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices: 3 Examples

1. Return Trips During Assignments

2. Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices for Local Transportation

3. Property Management at Origin Location

What Does This Mean?

How Can Employers Learn About Domestic Short Term Assignments Best Practices?

Conclusion

1. Security Standards

2. Cleanliness

3. Move-in Inspection

4. Maintenance and Emergencies

Conclusion

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