Office Relocation

Having carried out a workplace study and taken the decision that, to improve efficiency and better meet your future business needs, you need to relocate your offices, your prime concern will be key staff retention and morale. Alternatively, if you are opening offices abroad, it may be necessary for existing personnel to be placed on assignment in the host country to oversee the setting up.

Relocation, whether permanent or temporary, can be an exciting or worrying prospect for your employees and, in order to optimise the success of the venture, it is vital to address all the 'soft issues' involved in their decision making process. Research and experience show that the greatest barrier to an employee accepting an offer to relocate is the effect on the family; children's education is paramount. In fact, most people choose an area to live based on the best schooling available. Increasingly, many couples have dual careers, and the employment needs of a partner should also be considered.

Add to this mix the cultural complications surrounding a possible international move, with all the inherent challenges, and the potential stress can be overwhelming.

In order to mitigate this stress it is vital to communicate with your employees as soon as possible, once the decision has been made, with transparency and sensitivity. A specialist relocation agent can add value by employing their experience and expertise to advise and guide employees through the whole process. For example, they will take away the time-consuming business of searching for properties and schools, which can also be a minefield to the uninitiated; removing the worrying distractions of relocating and allowing them time to focus on their jobs. The reassurance and comfort provided by having professionals on the case is immeasurable.

Relocation agents provide a comprehensive range of personal services designed to smooth the way for an easy relocation. Typically, services include:

• assistance with visas and work permits
• area tours
• home search
• school search
• lease negotiation
• settling in services and utility connection
• tenancy management
• assistance with the sale of an existing property
• working partner support
• inter-cultural training
• language training
• removals co-ordination
• pet relocation

This list is not exhaustive and there are many other bespoke services available.

In addition to easing the way for your employees, a relocation agent can make your HR department's life easier too - from advising on a relocation policy to providing property benchmarking to assist in setting budgets. They can provide expense management and tax reporting, among other services. Moreover, by outsourcing relocation, whether domestic or international, to a specialist provider, your HR personnel, in addition to your relocating employees are able to focus on their core roles and responsibilities - all of which helps fulfil your aim of working more efficiently and effectively - the original object of the relocation exercise.

Provided by LSS Relocation Ltd

_{* Compiled by LSS Relocation Ltd}