2024 Partner In Quality Awards

by | Mar 1, 2024 | News

WHR Global Selects Recipients of its 2024 Partner in Quality Awards

WHR Global (WHR) announced its 2024 Partner in Quality Award winners. Recipients are WHR partners who exceeded customer satisfaction and service excellence throughout 2023. To be considered for a Partner in Quality Award, a partner must complete at least 20 transactions in the previous year and receive performance rankings within the top one percentile of the relocation partner’s service category. The award winners listed below exceeded WHR’s expectations in cost management, customer satisfaction, quality, and supply chain management.

 

We are extremely thankful to our entire supplier network, but specifically to these companies that have gone above and beyond in service and partnership. Their dedication and commitment to excellence have helped WHR Advance Lives Forward® of countless relocating employees.

Young happy couple receiving new house keys from real estate agent.

2024 Partner in Quality Award Winners (in no particular order)

A Beginner’s Guide to Destination Services

by | Feb 14, 2024 | News

Once you identify a candidate who is willing to relocate, the real work begins. There are two sides to every relocation: the departure side and the destination side. While departure benefits, such as home sales and lease breaks, are important, you can’t forget about the destination services your employee will require for a successful relocation. Ensuring that your employee is completely settled into the new location means you will have a happier, better adjusted employee.

Every move has its challenges, regardless if the move is U.S. domestic or overseas. Providing your employee with destination services goes a long way toward helping them to succeed, along with reducing any mobility risk factors. Because of this, many companies turn to a relocation management company, or RMC, to ensure all the pieces are in place.

A Beginner's Guide to Destination Services

Read more: WHR Global Releases “Ask the Expert” 2023 Destination Services Benchmark Report

Departure Services

For some countries, such as Switzerland and Singapore, departure services are critical to the success of your employee’s transfer or new assignment. RMCs such as WHR authorize departure services to our network of independent destination services providers. When the employee is prepared to vacate their property, the scope of work can include: assistance closing out lease agreements, return of deposits, final property walkthrough, key handover, property condition reports, and closing utility accounts. It’s also critical for your transferees to consider closing bank accounts, and filing change of residency or departure information as required by country. Last, but not least, WHR will review and recommend whether the employee and their family members should take immigration steps such as the cancellation of employment or dependent passes in their departure country. 

Area Orientation

Navigating the complexities of international assignments requires a thorough understanding of the destination. Area Orientation services play a pivotal role in facilitating a smooth transition for relocating employees and their families. Beyond aiding in the decision-making process, these services provide an invaluable opportunity for expats to visualize their upcoming life in a new city, state, and/or country.

Our Area Orientation services encompass comprehensive guidance on various aspects, ensuring a well-informed decision:

  1. About the Country: Offering insights into the broader cultural and societal aspects of the destination country.
  2. About the Area: Detailed information about the specific region, including local customs, attractions, and community dynamics.
  3. Housing Overview: Providing a comprehensive view of housing options, rental markets, and neighborhood considerations.
  4. Schooling Overview: Addressing educational facilities, curriculum options, and enrollment processes.
  5. Q & A Session: A personalized question and answer session, allowing relocating individuals to seek clarifications on specific concerns.

WHR’s Orientation Tours provide a realistic overview, empowering transferees to make informed decisions and kick-start their assignments seamlessly. Whether conducted in person or online, these tours contribute significantly to a stress-free relocation experience, aligning with the diverse needs of global mobility.

Spousal Assistance

One of the primary reasons an employee will turn down a relocation assignment or end up in a failed situation is because their spouse was not given enough support. Helping your employee’s spouse find new employment, build a résumé, network in the new location, learn a new language, or adapt to a new culture, can make all the difference for your transferring employee and their family. This will also help you avoid employees turning down a relocation and avoid losing out on great talent.

In WHR’s Culture + Mobility Benchmark report, we found that only 39% of companies offer spousal assistance to their international population. Because relocating internationally adds another level of stress for the employee’s family, we believe incorporating this benefit will go a long way in helping you secure the right person for the available role.

Young happy couple receiving new house keys from real estate agent.

Read more: What is a Buyer Value Option (BVO) Home Sale Program & How Does it Compare to a Guaranteed Buyout (GBO) Home Sale Program?

Home Finding

After your employee learns a little more about the city, they can start the home search. It can be difficult to make the transition to a new city. Working closely with local agents who know the ins and outs of the city makes the process simpler and less stressful for the employee. Your RMC should be equipped to help connect your employees with qualified local real estate agents to help them find the home of their dreams, be it an apartment to rent or a new home to buy.

Mortgage Programs

If your employee is purchasing, they’ll need to arrange financing. Your RMC should be able to help connect your employees with a mortgage program. The employee should never feel obligated to use any referred mortgage providers, but it is an option many find beneficial because the mortgage provider will have a complete understanding of the relocation process.

Read more: Providing Mortgage Support to Transferring Employees in Today’s Housing Market.

Destination Closing Costs

In order to support relocating employees in their new location, companies consistently offer a reimbursement of destination closing costs. Closing costs can be quite pricey. And if the employee wasn’t anticipating a relocation, they may not have the funds to cover these fees on their own.

Incent to Rent

While not a common benefit, an “incent-to-rent” program offers you the ability to save significantly on future relocations. The “incent-to-rent” benefit gives current homeowners a bonus if they decide to rent in the new location instead of purchase. This is commonly offered to employees who relocate frequently and allows the company to avoid paying closing costs on the new home purchase and any future home sale costs.

Temporary Housing

Sometimes housing can’t be secured at the time the employee needs to report for their new position. In the event that this happens, they will need help coordinating temporary housing. 

Most companies offer temporary housing as a benefit to their relocating employee population. While it may be costly, and isn’t ideal for the employee, it does help them feel less stressed and be more productive in the new location, making it an integral part of any great destination services package.

Corporate relocation isn’t always long-term, which is why we maintain a network of corporate or temporary housing providers and hotel chains. Offering this service allows short-term transferees to feel at home anywhere, no matter for how long.

Your relocation provider should work with temporary housing providers that, at a minimum, conduct unit inspections 24 hours prior to employee arrival, supply an inspection sheet for every unit with recent photos, and provide a phone number for 24/7 emergency assistance.

In order to control cost, many companies choose to cap this benefit, either monetarily or by timeframe. For this very reason, it is essential that your RMC have a strong network of corporate housing providers. Using both local and national companies will ensure that you are able to offer a unit that meets all your employee’s housing needs. 

Download now: WHR’s Global Temporary Housing Benchmark Report

Settling-In Services

When making a major move, there are many details to consider. When you look to an RMC to handle the arrangements, you can be assured that your employee has everything that they require upon arrival in their new location. For instance, your employees may need help setting up utilities, banking, or getting a new driver’s license. Other assistance given can include help in finding schools, churches, or any other details that they need to get settled in.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a successful employee relocation hinges on thoughtful destination services that extend beyond departure logistics. By partnering with a reliable relocation management company (RMC), companies can address the diverse needs of their relocating employees, ensuring a smooth transition to the new location. From area orientation and spousal assistance to home finding, mortgage programs, and settling-in services, a comprehensive approach enhances employee well-being and ultimately contributes to a more satisfied and productive workforce. Embrace the power of strategic destination services to facilitate successful relocations and cultivate a positive corporate culture.

Discard & Donate Services

by | Feb 7, 2024 | News

A Finnish Proverb says, “Happiness is a place between too little and too much.”

For many longtime homeowners, the shift to “too much” can occur without even realizing it. An accumulation of “stuff” over the years, busy schedules, and simply no time to finally organize the basement, attic, or garage….

This can all lead to an overwhelming task when homeowners are faced with moving to a new location.

Many homeowners resign to packing up all of their belongings and hoping to find the time to sort and discard while unpacking. But, there is a better way!

Discard & Donate

Discard & Donate professionals help sort, organize, and remove items prior to a move. Taking this time upfront enhances the marketability of a home during showings, reduces the overall cost of a move, and helps homeowners settle into their new homes more quickly. Not to mention, Discard & Donate also reduces transferees’ stress levels by providing part consultants, part coordinators, and part hard workers to support your employees and their families.

Global Mobility ESG

ESG Considerations

The environmental impact of sorting, discarding, or donating is also significant. Some movers calculate the number of trees saved on each move by eliminating cardboard and packing material. This is in addition to fuel savings and repurposing items through donation instead of sending them off to a landfill.

Not all household goods shipments are created equal, in terms of carbon emissions. In fact, the carbon footprint of air shipments is disproportionately high compared to other transportation modes, making it imperative for businesses and global mobility programs to seek sustainable alternatives; This includes preventing the item from ever being shipped by leveraging Discard & Donate. 

How the Service Works

Relocation management companies (RMCs) like WHR Global work with these Discard & Donate providers to aid employees, families, and their employers. The homeowner first completes a needs assessment with the provider to determine the scope of services needed. They can arrange for unwanted items to be picked up and donated to charity. Any goods that are unable to be donated will be taken by the provider to the appropriate waste removal site.

When determining which household items to keep, discard, or donate, it’s critical for relocating employees to ask themselves the following questions:

  1. Do you use the item regularly?
  2. Does it have sentimental value?
  3. Are you saving it “just in case?”
  4. Do you have more than one?
  5. Can you easily replace it in the destination?

The Cost

Pricing for Discard & Donate is determined by the amount of goods discarded or donated. However, if you — the employer — are paying for the move, the service fee is nominal compared to the transportation savings (with an additional $.65 per lb. of savings remaining).

Example: Remove 2,000 lbs. of household goods

Standard shipping cost:                   $2,400
Discard & Donate fee:                       –$1,100 
Savings on one shipment:                $1,300

Conclusion

Just remember: “The more things you own, the more they own you.” Relocating employees have enough concerns, including housing, timelines, cost of living, and more. 

Contact us to find out more about how Discard & Donate services can help relocating employees declutter, be happy in their new homes, and save your company money in the move process.

Attacks in the Red Sea Disrupt Employee Relocation Shipments

by | Jan 24, 2024 | News

Discover the ripple effect of Houthi militia attacks in the Red Sea on global shipping routes. Dive into how the shipping detour, spanning 4,000 extra miles around Africa, impacts employee relocation. Explore the surge in container rates, tripled shipping prices, and challenges faced by the industry. Navigating through disruptions, find insights on cost increases, delays, and innovative solutions for seamless employee relocations amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Household Goods Shipments Through the Red Sea

In recent months, the Red Sea has become a hotspot for geopolitical tensions, with Houthi militia attacks disrupting vital shipping routes. The repercussions of these attacks are reverberating across various industries, and one sector feeling the impact is the employee relocation industry. In this blog, we explore how the Houthi attacks are causing a ripple effect, particularly affecting household goods shipments for employees in transit.

 The Shipping Detour through Red Sea Crisis:

The Houthi attacks have compelled hundreds of ships to take an extraordinary detour, circumventing the Red Sea and sailing an additional 4,000 miles around Africa. This diversion not only burns extra fuel but also inflates costs and adds significant travel time, causing delays in the shipment of goods.

Shipping companies, in response to the increased costs of sailing around Africa, have tripled the prices for container shipments from Asia to Europe. This surge in prices is putting a strain on businesses, especially in the employee relocation sector, where timely and cost-effective shipments are crucial.

Container Rates and Surcharges:

Global shipping rates are skyrocketing due to the Houthi attacks, with data showing a 461% surge in rates for shipping goods from Asia to Northern Europe compared to mid-October. Carriers are also imposing surcharges ranging from $500 to $2,700 per container. These additional costs are affecting the bottom line for companies involved in employee relocations.

International shipping remains as complex as ever.  While port congestion and other supply chain issues have largely gone away, conflicts — such as the one we are seeing in and around the Red Sea, and natural disasters such as the drought in Panama — continue to make things challenging from a logistical standpoint on shipping.

Now, more than ever, it is important to lean on quality supplier partners that can keep abreast of the changing circumstances.  At WHR Global, we want everyone to be aware; having patience with timeframes and being understanding of fluctuating fees is critical to navigate an international shipment.

Adam Rasmussen

Supply Chain Manager, WHR Global

Employee Relocation Challenges:

For the employee relocation industry, these disruptions mean significant cost increases and delays in shipments from the Middle East to Europe and other regions heavily reliant on the Suez Canal. The extended journey length around Africa, as ships avoid the Red Sea, reduces the effective capacity of trips by about 25%, as estimated by UBS.

Conclusion:

As the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea continue to impact global shipping routes, the employee relocation industry finds itself grappling with increased costs, delays, and logistical challenges. Stakeholders in this sector must navigate these turbulent waters, seeking innovative solutions to ensure the smooth and timely relocation of employees and their household goods in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.

Navigating Employee Relocations: Lump Sum vs. Managed Budget

by | Jan 17, 2024 | News

Lump Sum vs. Managed Budget:

When it comes to employee relocations, companies often face the decision between offering a lump sum or a managed budget. Each approach has its unique advantages and considerations. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key differences between lump sum and managed budget relocations, helping businesses make informed decisions that benefit both the company and the employee.

lump sum

Lump Sum Relocations: A Brief Overview

Lump sums are commonly viewed as a cost-saving measure rather than a standalone benefit. This approach involves providing employees with a predetermined cash allowance to manage their relocation independently. However, there are challenges associated with lump sum relocations:

Lump Sums Offer Limited Support:

With a lump sum, employees may experience limited support from the Relocation Management Company (RMC). While they can leverage a network of supplier partners, they often find themselves navigating the relocation process alone.

Employees May Experience Financial Pitfalls:

Employees receiving lump sums may struggle with understanding the true cost of relocation. This can lead to uneven spending, opting for the cheapest quotes without considering the overall experience, and even attempting to save cash rather than facilitating a smooth transition.

Employees Risk Using Rogue Movers:

Choosing the cheapest mover online can result in unforeseen issues. From untrained crews to unexpected additional charges, the lack of pre-move surveys can lead to complications, including goods being held hostage on the truck – a situation that is both inconvenient and illegal.

Managed Lump Sum: Striking a Balance

Managed lump sums provide a middle ground, offering both cost containment for the company and flexibility for the employee. Here’s why businesses should consider this approach:

Give Ongoing Support:

Unlike traditional lump sums, managed lump sums come with continuous support from the Relocation Management Company (RMC). This support extends throughout the entire relocation process, ensuring employees receive assistance, issue escalation, and regular status updates.

Leverage Expense Tracking:

The RMC utilizes technology to track dates and estimates, holding supplier partners accountable for delivering excellent service at transparent prices. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of unexpected costs and ensures a smoother relocation experience.

Offer Flexibility for Employees:

Managed lump sums allow employees to have more control over their relocation budget. They can pick and choose how to allocate their funds, providing a personalized experience that caters to individual needs.

Managed Lump Sums Deliver Cost Savings:

If an employee doesn’t utilize the entire managed budget, the remaining amount is captured by the employer as cost savings. This ensures that companies maintain financial efficiency while still prioritizing employee well-being.

Conclusion: Making Informed Choices

In the debate between lump sum and managed budget relocations, it’s clear that a managed lump sum offers a balanced solution. By combining ongoing support, expense tracking, and flexibility for employees, businesses can ensure successful relocations that benefit both the company and its workforce. As companies navigate the complexities of employee relocations, the managed lump sum emerges as a strategic and employee-centric choice.

The Role of Global Mobility Companies in Employee Transitions

by | Jan 11, 2024 | News

Embarking on a relocation, especially in the context of global mobility, can be both challenging and exhilarating. Whether you are an employee preparing for an international assignment or an HR professional overseeing the seamless transition of your relocating workforce, the intricacies of overseas moves can seem overwhelming.

This guide aims to demystify the relocation process, with a focus on the vital role of a relocation management company (RMC) in simplifying the experience and ensuring a positive outcome for all involved.

Corporate Global Mobility/Employee Relocation

Global Mobility, or employee relocation, is an HR function that enables companies to transfer employees across borders from one location to another. It encompasses a broader range of activities related to international assignments and employee transfers, including pre-departure support, cultural training, and ongoing assistance during the assignment. Global mobility is a type of employee mobility function within an organization that enables employees to relocate and work from anywhere in the world. It addresses the logistical issues of talent relocation, such as immigration, compliance, HR support, global compensation, and ensuring overall continuity.

RMCs provide:

  • Logistical Support: Handling details such as finding a new home and shipping belongings.
  • Visa and Immigration Assistance: Navigating complex legal requirements.
  • Cultural Training and Onboarding: Assisting with adaptation to new environments.
  • Settling-in Support: Guiding employees in finding local resources and amenities.

WHR Global: A Leader in Global Mobility Solutions

When selecting an RMC, the experience and expertise of the provider are crucial. WHR Global, a prominent player in the industry, is known for delivering top-notch global mobility solutions and ensuring the best employee relocation experiences.

WHR Global sets itself apart by offering cutting-edge software, mobile, and web solutions. Their centralized relocation management platform simplifies the entire process, providing real-time tracking, vendor management, and compliance oversight, ensuring transparency and accountability for all parties involved.

Benefits of Partnering with WHR Global

Collaborating with a reputable RMC like WHR Global offers several advantages, including reduced stress, enhanced employee satisfaction, cost savings, and improved compliance. By entrusting your relocation needs, you can navigate the complexities of global mobility with confidence and ease.

By embracing global mobility and partnering with reputable RMCs such as WHR Global, companies can streamline their global mobility processes, reduce stress, enhance employee satisfaction, and ensure compliance. From comprehensive pre-assignment planning to cultural training and settling-in support, the expertise of an RMC is indispensable in facilitating a smooth and fulfilling experience for relocating employees.

Leveraging cutting-edge software and web solutions, WHR Global sets itself apart in delivering top-notch global mobility solutions, offering real-time tracking, vendor management, and compliance oversight. By incorporating these essential elements into your global mobility strategy, you can navigate the complexities of employee relocation with confidence and ease, ultimately driving positive outcomes for your organization.

In conclusion, a successful relocation hinges on thorough planning, expert guidance, and strong support. By partnering with an RMC, you can embark on your relocation journey knowing that you have a trusted ally dedicated to ensuring a smooth and fulfilling experience for you, your family, or your relocating workforce.