Guest PostWhen you’re considering hiring for a new position, opening up your talent pool to the whole country (or world) can help you find the right person for the job. However, finding the perfect person doesn’t automatically mean they’ll consider relocating.
With remote work on the rise, many employees are making the argument that it’s just as easy and effective to work from home. In some positions, that’s true. However, if your position requires an in-person presence, it’s time to consider an employee relocation package.
If someone is going to move away from home for work, they need an incentive to do so that goes beyond a paycheck. So, what should your employee relocation package include? Why is it beneficial to have one? How can it help you attract high-value job seekers to your company?
What Are the Benefits?
The biggest benefit of developing an employee relocation package is a greater talent pool. It’s not always easy to find people in your geographical location that have the skills and experience needed for a specific position. Opening up your position to candidates near and far will make it easier to find the right person quickly.
It also shows that your company cares about its employees. If you’re trying to promote your brand, nothing builds a positive company culture like the willingness to move talented employees across the country and provide them with everything they need to succeed. Not only will that brand recognition make your company more attractive to prospective employees, but it will boost employee retention.
Finally, the knowledge transfer your business will get from the right employees will be unmatched. You won’t have to worry about “training” a new hire for their specific position, because you’ve brought in someone with years of experience and strong skills. Not only will they be good at their job, but they can help others improve productivity, too.
What Workers Want
If you’re scratching your head wondering what makes an employee relocation package competitive, consider what employees who are moving from a different area might really want. What’s going to stand out that will be too enticing for them to pass up?
It starts with support.
A hefty salary is always nice but think about the mental and emotional well-being of that employee, and how they might feel as they uproot their life and head somewhere new. Offering your support is a great way to make them feel at home right away. You can do that by giving actionable advice and helping them throughout the move, helping them with things like:
- Moving checklists
- Finding storage facilities
- Hiring professional movers
- Covering their moving costs
It’s not uncommon for companies to offer a relocation bonus or a lump sum of money that can be used to cover whatever moving costs the employee sees fit.
Finally, make sure they know about your positive office culture. No one is going to want to travel across the country, or the world, into an environment that doesn’t feel welcoming and supportive. Stay in contact with the employee for several weeks before they make the move, and show off your environment as often as possible. The more familiar they are with it by the time they start their position, the more excited they’ll be about the transition.
Meet Their Needs
The bells and whistles of a relocation package are important, but they won’t mean anything if you aren’t meeting the basic needs of a new employee. Some of those needs include:
- Temporary housing
- Storage facilities
- Insurance coverage
- Home-selling assistance
- House-hunting costs
- Travel reimbursement
You can even go one step further and choose to provide furnished and decorated housing for your new employee until they find a permanent place. It can help them feel more at home right away, providing comfort and reducing some of the stress and anxiety that can often come with making a move.
Being able to open up your candidate pool can do wonders for the success of your business. However, finding the best candidate for each position requires offering relocation incentives. Keep these ideas in mind as you create a competitive employee relocation package, and you’ll be able to pick from the most skilled and experienced workers in the country – or the world!
Featured Guest Expert – Indiana Lee
Indiana Lee is a writer, reader, and jigsaw puzzle enthusiast from the Pacific Northwest. An expert on business operations, leadership, marketing, and lifestyle, you can follow her on Twitter @IndianaLee3
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Josh Tolan
