Relocating an Employee Within the United States

INTRODUCTION

America is a mobile society.

Many of these moves are at the request of employers.

Employers may find it necessary to relocate employees for a number of reasons:

• promotion
• new hires
• sales rotations
• corporate reorganizations
• mergers and acquisitions
• office consolidations
• expansion into new territories
• new business start-ups

This course examines the costs of these moves both to the organization and to the employee.

Rising Costs

It is not cheap to relocate an employee.

This course will look at the monetary costs involved in moving — what they are and who is responsible for paying them. We’ll also look at what cost-savings approaches your organization can use.

Course Overview

We begin by discussing the advantages of sending a prospective transferee on a visitation trip. This will help the employee decide whether or not to accept the relocation offer and ensure that a return on investment in career development and business operations is realized.

Then we’ll examine selling the employee’s home. This is usually the employee’s biggest asset and biggest liability. We’ll show you programs your organization could use to make this process smoother and less costly to the employee.

Next, we’ll examine moving costs, including how they can be controlled with weight limits, excluded items, and moving company choices. We’ll also look at how a family may be moved, and what transportation costs will be reimbursed.

After this, we’ll consider the settling-in process. We’ll look at ways your organization can help employees purchase new homes, including mortgage assistance plans. We’ll also look at ways to help working spouses find new jobs in their new locations.

Finally, we’ll consider ways to administer relocation allowances. We’ll examine the advantages and disadvantages of cafeteria plans, lump-sum programs, and tiered relocation plans. You’ll find out how to cater each to different employee groups: executive, professional, and newly hired employees. In addition, you’ll learn how to keep relocating employees whole, even if the cost-of-living in the new area is higher.