When it comes to moving personnel, taking care of the details ahead of time including what’s covered by the policy, expected exceptions, and how to handle them, can save your company time and money in the long run. A household goods (HHG) policy helps HR professionals and procurement specialists communicate to employees and allows for a more seamless relocation.

While it may seem that some things will never be brought to your attention as an exception request, spending time reevaluating how line items should be classified in your HHG policy will ensure that you avoid unpleasant surprises. Your HR staff and global relocation provider can be on the same footing by evaluating your HHG policy. Whether it’s the accounting manager with a wine collection or the marketing associate who owns two playhouses and a giant trampoline, addressing your household goods policy ahead of time can help you avoid exception requests.

When Relocating HHG, there are a Few Things to Keep in Mind

It should come as no surprise that today’s businesses place a high priority on company culture. Top talent is more focused than ever on finding the right fit for them. The consistency of the corporate culture can influence talent retention even after acquiring talent. Small decisions can have a cascading influence on how employees perceive their company’s culture. We encourage individuals in charge of their company’s relocation program to assess the household goods move policy and its line items through a cultural lens as well as a financial one.

In a broader sense, employees’ location and demographics are crucial, since they may influence the products that need to be transferred. You may need to reconsider how boats and jet skis are classified in your HHG policy if you have many coastal employees. You may need to transfer outside play equipment if executives have large families. These are the kinds of discussions and considerations that should guarantee the policy and culture are in sync.

Clear and On Track Policies

1. Keeping Costs Under Control

When it comes to cost reduction, HHG policies can be a valuable tool for businesses. While certain line items may appear insignificant, if your organization is shifting many people, little things can soon add up. Reviewing HHG policies can help you save money while also ensuring that you’re covered for everything your company considers essential for employee relocation. Your relocation firm may also have insights and ideas that will help you determine if your organization is finding the proper balance of competitiveness and cost-cutting.

2. Keeping it Simple

There is a reason why people avoid moving. Moving is difficult, stressful, and draining. This is especially true if you don’t cover all your bases ahead of time. When the moving day arrives, a well-defined HHG policy can help to reduce turmoil and inconvenience. In addition to carefully examining your HHG policy, effective communication among all parties involved reduces any surprises before the move date.

3. Time is of the essence

Excessive use of the “exception” category in household goods policies may result in a disproportionate number of exception requests. At the same time, it may be challenging to agree on a precise “yes” or “no” for each line item in your HHG policies; doing so to the extent possible streamlines the transfer and saves you time. This is especially true in companies that relocate a lot of people.

You will benefit if you work closely with a relocation provider who knows the industry inside and out. While many elements go into creating a successful relocation program, household goods policies are an excellent place to start when trying to: align relocation with company culture; adapt to changing tax policies; control costs; streamline the moving process; and save time in your HR and procurement departments.

MMP’s Advantages

WHR’s MMP is one solution to the movement of household goods resulting in fewer overall claims, cost savings, and improved service: Learn more here:

https://youtu.be/LKtxwMlMyO0?si=AC9WYJ5AWH0ZjGr0.  Most carriers have limited resources and equipment, so during peak periods they will either reject or accept your move based on their availability. MMP offers a virtual bid board for WHR move opportunities, so carriers can readily see the departure and destination locations. It also implies that carriers will not have to travel between places with empty trucks and will accept cargo based on their location and crew availability during a specific timeframe.

However your company handles HHG policy issues, make sure you’re partnered with a good Relocation Management Company!