Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/276151
[ 38 ] HRO TODAY MAGAZINE | MARCH 2014 Navigating the Mobility Landscape 10 suggestions to improve your global program. By Ed Hannibal Relocation Recent research from Mercer reports that most multinational employers intend to increase the number of employees they send on both long-term and short-term global assignments over the next two years. The goal of most relocation programs is to attract and transfer the right employees for the right amount of time—all while controlling costs. Here are 10 ways to help navigate the global mobility landscape. 1. Step back and get some perspective. Knowing where your assignment policies stand versus those of your peers is an important first step in maintaining an effective global mobility program. Some of your policies may vary significantly from those of your competitors. Employers need to know where their mobility programs fit in the competitive landscape, and decide how to adjust outlying elements. As the general economy emerges from an austere, cost-cutting time, some employers may find they have reduced too much to remain competitive. Other employers that have not benchmarked their plans for years may find that they are overpaying in areas such as incentive premiums or housing for mobile employees. That variation may be justified, but employers should at least know its direction and extent. 2. Get assignee feedback from the right source. Surprisingly, assignees rarely express dissatisfaction about their compensation and allowances in opinion surveys. But issues that typically bother them most— poor communications, lack of relocation support, ineffective service providers, and repatriation planning—cannot be fixed simply by spending more money. To get candid feedback that can result in meaningful policy improvements, consider using a third party. Such companies supplement surveys with interviews and focus groups. Having an unbiased party involved will garner more honest responses. 3. Expand your map. Many employers are pushing beyond typical expatriate locations of Hong Kong, Shanghai, London, and Dubai to less typical ones. As the global economy recovers, traditional expat cities are no longer