In this global pandemic, relocating employees has taken on some additional steps – even more so if you are relocating employees abroad. You aren’t just dealing with laws and guidelines in your own country anymore, now you’re dealing with the laws of other countries as well.
You certainly want your employee to be safe during a relocation, but you also want them to be able to return to work fully rested and ready to be productive once they settle into the new country. And being quarantined for 15 days upon arrival will probably throw a few wrenches in those gears.
So in this article, we’re going to give some helpful tips on how you can safely and (almost) seamlessly transition your employees.
Be aware of quarantine measures if relocating abroad
Let’s be really honest, absolute “safety” is a bit of an illusion. If it was all about safety, we could just stop this article at “provide your employee with some masks and hand sanitizer” and be done with it. No need to waste words on what are obvious measures we’ve all been practicing for over a year now, right?
No, the biggest hurdle you’re going to face is observing guidelines and restrictions within the destination country. As a basic example, some countries have started using QR code apps for entry to public buildings such as shopping malls. No QR code, no entry.
How does your employee obtain one? Well see, that’s exactly the sort of stuff you need to consider, and the sort of stuff that a professional relocation company like ARC global relocation services would be prepared to handle on your behalf.
Be aware that many countries are still requiring travellers to undergo mandatory quarantines for a period of time before being allowed to travel within the country. Some countries also have additional restrictions depending on the traveller’s originating country, or other countries visited in recent history.
Many countries have imposed a strict 10 – 14 day quarantine for travellers, while others may waive quarantine measures if health screening and vaccination documents are provided. You want to ensure your employees safety, but you also want to ensure that their relocation is hurdle-free (as hurdle-free as it can be, given the situation).
Summary:
- Be aware of any technologies being used to track the spread of COVID-19, such as mandatory custom QR codes.
- Consider using a professional relocation service with a comprehensive plan in place.
Make sure safety protocols are followed for travel
During this pandemic, your primary obligation is to ensure the safety of your staff. Because they’re unlikely to want to fly more than necessary, or take public transport in the destination country, you might wish to provide them with a rental automobile if they don’t have one already.
You must be prepared to make accommodations for their stays if they stop somewhere overnight along the way. Keep in mind that if they bring their family, you’ll need to set up more funds.
International relocation comes with a lot of additional guidelines to observe, depending on the country, so it’s the company’s job to make sure everything goes smoothly, and your relocated employees don’t suffer any hardships during their travel.
You can check out a very helpful list of countries with mandatory quarantine guidelines, and other travel advisories, on this blog.
A quick summary:
- Make specific travel security advice for employees in transit.
- Provide staff care kits, which included masks, hand sanitizers, and cleaning supplies.
- Ensure that your employee has all necessary documents to freely travel around the destination country.
- If the employee has not been vaccinated, check if vaccinations are mandatory in the destination country, and if the employee can obtain a vaccination before departure.
Be helpful to the employees travel plans
Companies used to reward employees with lump-sum relocation packages, but research has shown that this technique causes employees to experience more stress and lower productivity. You should be there for the entire surgery if at all feasible.
One of the most challenging aspects is relocating homes. If your employee owns a home, you’ll want to make the process of selling it as pleasant as possible, which includes finding a buyer as soon as feasible.
When you try to build up workers for employment in other states, you will add a lot of work to your plate and cause a lot of disruption. Companies may use specialized employee relocation services to streamline the process and handle the various paperwork and goods that are required. There is a handy relocation guide for an employee from such a company.
A pandemic’s migration presents its own set of challenges. Although some employees are willing to relocate, they anticipate assistance from their employer. 82 percent of respondents expect living help in the form of moving costs (60 percent), a lump sum payment (60 percent), or temporary living expenses (54 percent ).
