Global Mobility Services

Global Mobility Services

Your business is global, and we understand that finding the right talent isn’t just a local endeavor. With our extensive relocation expertise and our independent global partner network of experienced destination service providers (DSPs), WHR Global can efficiently move your employees around the world.

At WHR Global we are available 7-days a week and are ready to support your assignees whenever they need assistance, no matter the time zone they are in.

Our full experience and service offerings for international relocations include:

Employee Policy Counseling & Needs Assessment

Your assignee’s counselor will be available throughout their entire relocation, but first the counselor will review the available benefits and complete a comprehensive needs assessment. The counselor coordinates each benefit or service as the assignee’s advocate – setting appointments, confirming status updates, and providing timely updates on each service. The counselor will collect information on the assignee’s needs, address timelines, and will work proactively to ensure a smooth relocation.

Expense Management & Allowance Payment in Local Currency

Your assignees have access to a personal web portal, which has an online expense entry system. The portal is also available on our free mobile application, where the assignee can access all their data on the go. Assignees can easily upload receipts to submit for reimbursement and receive updates on the status of their expense submission. WHR can send reimbursement deposits to accounts all over the world, giving assignees quicker access to their funds during the transition.

Tax Service

WHR Global counsels international assignees in-house. The tax preparation and equalization calculations are performed by an external tax partner. If requested, we can make the foreign tax payments and track tax credits as well.

Immigration Service

WHR Global counsels international assignees in-house. The visa and immigration applications will be submitted by an external immigration partner. Our proprietary technology, CARICS, assists in this process by tracking timelines and due dates.

Pre-Decision Trips & Area Overviews

Your WHR Global counselor can assist the assignee in coordinating a pre-decision trip and area tour to see if the international move is the right choice for that assignee. This includes a needs assessment to assign a destination service provider (DSP) to meet with the assignee during their visit to help address up front questions about living in the new location, schooling, and beginning the housing search. Following the trip, the counselor will collect the applicable expenses from the assignee for expense reimbursements, as needed.

Destination Service Assignment

We have a global network of fully vetted destination service providers (DSPs) who will work closely with your assignee in their new location. Whether your assignee will require help with a housing search, local registrations, school searching, opening bank accounts, obtaining a driver’s license or finding local amenities, their DSP will be the local expert they need to provide that support.

Language & Culture Training

Depending on your company and assignee needs, we can help assignees with language and cultural training. We can match them with a vendor who can work face-to-face or virtually and can even set up training with someone who specializes in working with children. Each student will be given an assessment and will work with the instructor to create a customized program with goals to help them be successful with the new language and culture.

Spousal Assistance

We understand that when an assignee moves to a new country that the acclimation process can be difficult for the loved ones they bring with. WHR Global can facilitate any type of spousal assistance that may be necessary. From career assistance to acclimation support we can help ensure they find local expat groups, salons, fitness centers, children’s groups, or anything else we can help them with.

Household Goods & Freight Forwarding

Ensuring the right network is utilized for the movement of household goods results in less claims and happier employees, both of which are key elements of a reputable global mobility program. To assist in managing this process internationally, WHR Global uses a technology-driven solution called Move Management International (MMI). This technology allows our counselor to select the best fit forwarder based on cost and estimated transit times. We also have the flexibility to find local agents who will provide a high quality of service and meet the date requirements of each assignee.

Temporary Housing & Interim Services

We coordinate temporary housing with global providers that must meet or exceed certain service delivery requirements. We work to find options that will best meet your assignee’s needs based on their location, family size, length of stay, pets, etc. Our goal is to provide a few unit options to each assignee for their review and allow them to select the best fit. We request temporary housing solutions from multiple vendors in an area to ensure that we are cost competitive and have multiple options for your assignees.

Home Sale Assistance

Our home sale assistance includes the full range of programs, from guaranteed buyouts and buyer value options used in the U.S. to the reimbursement of customary commissions and closing costs throughout the world. Your WHR counselor will work with the assignee to sell their home, help them understand their benefits, and collect the needed documentation to process the reimbursement.

Tenancy Management

If tenancy management is needed, the counselor will send the assignee information regarding property management services. To effectively assist you and your assignee in obtaining suitable tenants for the rental property, your WHR counselor will recommend a fair market rental value for the property. The counselor will assign the property to an appropriate real estate or rental management sales office and full-time real estate agent or property management agent. Property management services may also include overseeing any necessary repairs or maintenance contracts related to the rental property, including:

  • Emergency repairs
  • Lawn care
  • Snow removal

Property management and maintenance can be administered whether the property is occupied or vacant.

Lease Cancellation Services

Your renters’ needs are just as important as your homeowners’. Your counselor can assist with lease cancellations including a lease analysis and payment processing in accordance with your company’s policy and their lease terms. Your assignees can simply upload their required documents into the assignee portal or mobile app. As soon as all documents have been added to the portal, the counselor will receive an immediate notification to review and release your assignee’s funds.

Destination Purchase or Rental Assistance

Depending on location, one of our destination service providers or a local real estate agent will help your assignee identify and obtain permanent housing in their new location. Specific support can include lease and or offer negotiation, inventory check-in, and utility connection.

Ongoing Assignment Support

We understand that talent is a cyclical process, and that careers do not begin and end with relocation, which is why we provide ongoing talent management and assignment support. This includes preparing the assignee for the move, career management while they are on assignment,  and returning home. For ongoing assignment support, this can be as simple as staying in touch with the assignee and their family to ensure they are adjusting to their new surroundings or coordinating additional services or training as authorized by your company.

Repatriation

We offer full repatriation program management, including program guidance and ongoing talent management recommendations to ensure your assignees feel welcome, settled, and valued back home. We offer all departure and destination services to assignees making the move back to their home country.

Policy Consulting

In today’s job market, it is more important than ever for employers to stand out from the competition. That’s why employee relocation policy consulting is one of our core service offerings. We are always looking for new and innovative ways to improve our client and transferee processes for a smoother relocation experience. We also track trends in policies to ensure you are saving money while having a competitive, employee-centric program. Our policy consulting is provided free of charge.

Exception Management

Our exception approval process is completely handled online. Your client services manager (CSM) will summarize the request, potential costs, and make a recommendation. The exception is then sent to the designated contact at your company via email for their review and approval or denial. You can add notes or defer approval to an internal stakeholder; all without logging into the online portal.

Our proprietary technology, CARICS, allows for complete visibility into the trends of your exceptions. Your CSM will review all approvals and denials on a weekly basis. As trends become clear, they will initiate discussions on program strategy and recommendations.

Benchmark Studies

WHR provides, at no charge, multiple benchmarks of our client’s policies every year against current best practices and trends. We believe the best way to stay up to date on trending relocation services is to do the research ourselves. Our benchmark studies can include industry specific, regional-specific, and international relocation trends. Every benchmark offers insight on areas of your policy for consideration regarding cost saving initiatives and policy revisions, based on current market trends.

Our 2018 Benchmark Study is still available. Download it now to see how your current policies compare.

Cost of Living Analysis

WHR can coordinate a Cost of Living Analysis (COLA) report that includes a city-to-city comparison covering housing, utilities, goods, and services. COLA analyses are ordered either through client-directed vendors or WHR’s preferred vendors. Each COLA is audited to ensure location and policy match prior to disbursement.

Gross Up

All relocation payments are coded for tax status purposes in our system according to the most recent IRS guidelines and based on your tax methodology. All tax calculations are processed through an integrated third-party accounting system, which provides annual federal and state tax updates and supports full reporting of all taxable and non-taxable relocation costs. This process has allowed us to maintain an over 99% W2 reporting accuracy. Our IT team will ensure system interfaces are built and designed to interact and/or interface with your own payroll software solutions. We will coordinate expense transmission directly to your payroll on a pre-set schedule determined during implementation. All disbursement requests include full back-up detail that supports the amount requested. Our in-house expense management system is fully integrated for billing, payroll reporting, and management reporting. We will also customize management reporting to your needs and time frames. We can also provide a year-end summary of relocation costs, taxable and nontaxable payments, and gross-up paid by item to each transferee and your payroll team.

 

Budgeting & Cost Estimates

WHR can provide estimates for each transferee’s total relocation spend based on the approved policy and anticipated expenses through our estimator tool. These budget estimates can be consolidated on a monthly basis along with actual spend so that we can see if we’re on track, if there have been additional expenses, and the total spend for the entire program that year.

Reporting

We understand every client has specific and unique needs when it comes to reporting. That’s why our reports are available on demand, at no cost, and in real-time. Our proprietary technology offers you the ability to report on over 3,000 data points with unlimited customization options. All reports in your portal are 100% customized to your needs, requirements, and policy specifications. If you ever require a specific report, your client services manager (CSM) will have it made available to you the same day, or within 24 hours, all at no charge to you. After your report is created, you will then have unlimited access via the client portal – where you can access it at any time.

Our standard reporting options include the following which can be provided to you on a set schedule by your CSM:

  • Employee Mid-Process and End of Process Survey results
  • Domestic & International Policy Components per Transferee
  • Compensation Reporting, with Breakdown of Tax/NonTax Items
  • Company/Division Breakdown of Activity and Costs
  • Performance Trends
  • Service Evaluation Review
  • Policy Exception Analysis
  • Real Estate Market Condition Review
  • New Initiations
  • Payroll Reporting
  • Inventory Cost Report
  • Recap/Action Item Review
  • Cost Projections/Accruals
  • Satisfaction Report
  • Program Cost Overview
  • Exception Activity and Cost Reports

Additional reporting capabilities include: performance against KPIs, detailed financial reports, and case level information. Reports can be provided in Word, Excel, or PDF formats on a pre-determined schedule set during implementation; however, WHR can provide reports in multiple other formats depending on your needs. All reports are available in real time via our client portal, 24/7. This includes access to all key service information, comments, tracking dates, tasks, and documents.

Ready to learn more about how we can help with your relocation services?