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Many professionals dream of working abroad. Because of this, thousands of workers send out applications to different countries or their target destination with the goal of getting a job, achieving career progression, and living in a new place.
However, some people do not need to go through the tedious process of applying for a job abroad.
A few are given the opportunity to work for the same company, but at an office or branch in a different country.
Although this is an opportunity that many professionals would embrace gladly, some may be hesitant to accept the offer.
And even if they do accept it, they may still have concerns regarding their international move.
Preparing Employees for a Move Abroad
Employees who are initially unsure about being transferred to a different country can become more open to this possibility if they know that they will get the support they need to make a stress-free, successful transition.
If you are planning to transfer employees to your office or branch overseas, you can assuage their fears and give them the gentle push they need by providing the right workforce mobility solutions from the start.
Once you have decided to transfer some employees to an overseas office or branch, you need to start making a plan for assisting them during their move.
Aside from finding suitable accommodation for your employees, you and your HR team should also help them with their immigration requirements, moving their items, and other logistical details.
You should also finalize your employees’ compensation package, which should be enticing, higher than their current one, and more than enough to enable them to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.
In addition, if your employees are moving with their families, you have to plan for additional benefits, such as a car lease, private education for their children, and even a living allowance.
When you have all the details of the move planned out and an attractive relocation package on offer, your employees will have plenty to look forward to.
Their eagerness to get started with their assignment will also help them adjust to their new home successfully.
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Supporting Your Employees’ Post-Move Transition
An international move for employees can affect their productivity and performance. It can also disturb your office’s overall output.
It is, therefore, essential to help your employees adjust after the move to ensure they contribute to their new office’s success and work with their colleagues smoothly as soon as possible.
Aside from ironing out your employees’ relocation package, below are five ways you can help them adjust to their new home:
1. Provide pre-move training and guidance
Culture shock, homesickness, and other adjustment difficulties can affect anyone who moves overseas.
These are the biggest issues that can upset new workers and make their transition more difficult.
Helping your employees have a clear understanding of what to expect upon their arrival at their destination, both in the workplace and the country, allows them to deal with these transition issues effectively.
Have your HR team provide talks and educational resources on culture, language, and daily life at their destination.
You can also speak with international relocation service providers that offer language and cultural training.
With their help, your workers will have a better understanding of what they can expect after their move.
2. Speak with your employees about their goals
A life-changing move to a strange country can make anyone feel worried and strained, which will affect their transition and, eventually, their performance in their new workplace.
You can reduce your employees’ anxiety and help them adjust to their new working environment and home smoothly by working with them to set clear, achievable goals.
Start by letting your employees talk about their goals. Next, discuss with them your objectives and expectations.
Ensure that you understand your workers’ goals and help them comprehend what you expect.
The key is to make sure they know their responsibilities and, at the same time, to show you are serious about keeping them happy in their position.
When your employees are clear about their goals and your expectations, they will have less confusion about their place within the company.
This, in turn, will reduce their anxiety levels when moving to and working in a foreign land.
3. Create a welcome team
Having a welcome team can help your employees make a smooth transition.
Ideally, your welcome team should be made up of an HR staff, a department or team-specific mentor, and one or two workers from each section.
The HR staff will be the employees’ go-to person for everything they need, from company paperwork instructions and assistance in opening a bank account, to ways to make utility bill payments and recommendations for restaurants.
The mentor should be a member of the employees’ direct team. The guide will work on explaining the processes, goals, and current projects of the department.
You will do well to choose another team member who has the same role or job as the new employee so that both can be more comfortable collaborating and learning from each other. This will help the training proceed more smoothly.
Finally, to make the new employees feel at ease in their new workplace, schedule group meetings with the individuals from each team.
Additionally, arrange a time for your new staff to interact with each member so that they can get to know one another and start collaborating.
When everyone pitches in, they can help their new co-workers adjust to their new workplace and home.
4. Plan a variety of social activities
Providing newly transferred employees different opportunities to socialize and interact with their new colleagues can also help them adjust to their new life successfully.
Speak with your team to choose activities that will allow everyone to have fun and make your new employees feel welcome from the start.
This can be as simple as having everyone enjoy doughnuts and coffee before a meeting to allow everyone to mingle.
Additionally, organize company outings. Host out-of-office company-wide activities, such as a game of mini-golf, film viewings, or a day at the beach to allow all employees to let their hair down, relax, and have fun.
With this vibe, everyone will feel more at ease and find communicating and socializing less challenging, especially your newly transferred employees.
5. Help your families deal with split family stressors
Lastly, employees who are leaving their families behind will feel more anxious about an international move.
Even if their families will join them within a few months or so, moving without them, in the beginning, will be more difficult for them.
These family splits can be exhausting, demanding, and distracting to the employee’s transition into the new role.
It is important that you are aware of this situation so that you can give your employees the assistance they need.
With the right additional support, particularly on the emotional side, you can help them reduce their anxieties.
This, in turn, will help your newly transferred employees stay engaged at work and transition more smoothly.
With careful planning and the support of everyone involved, any employee who will take up a post overseas can continue to be an asset and valuable member of your organization.
