Focusing on Family: Prioritizing Kids, Partners and Pets in a Move
Taking a more holistic family approach to your corporate relocations can increase workers’ satisfaction and boost your employee retention and experience numbers.
Corporate relocation is about more than just moving employees—so often, it’s about moving families. A successful relocation depends on ensuring the entire family feels supported, especially children, partners, and even pets.
According to EY’s Relocating Partner Survey Report, family issues are a leading reason for rejected relocation offers. Partner dissatisfaction accounts for 75% of failed assignments, while 38% are due to challenges involving children. These outcomes don’t just affect families—they can significantly impact your bottom line.
Taking a more holistic family approach to your corporate relocations can increase workers’ satisfaction and boost your employee retention and experience numbers.
Adding Family-Specific Move Package Benefits
Setting the tone for a successful move starts with your relocation policy. By including family-specific benefits, your organization will show employees that their loved ones aren’t an afterthought—they’re a priority. If your move policy could be improved in this area, consider adding offerings such as:
- Childcare assistance
- School research and placement
- Network-building communities
- Pet travel support
- Partner career services
According to Impact Group HR, employees are four times more likely to consider a move successful if family support services are provided. Offering these kinds of benefits not only eases the transition but also increases the likelihood of long-term success for the relocation. Flexible policies, like those recommended in SHRM’s relocation toolkit, can be tailored to meet your employees’ unique needs.
Meeting the Needs of the Whole Family
Families come in all shapes, sizes and species, and their needs can vary just as much. While birth rates may be declining, children are still present in 65% of millennial households. For families without kids, pets often take center stage—45% of households have dogs, and 32% have cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Supporting your employees means planning for the needs of children, partners, and even furry friends.
Here are some ways you can bring your relocation policies to life depending on an employee’s family dynamics.
- For children: Make the process engaging for them by providing small “surprise and delight” moments like coloring books for travel or ensuring their toys and bedroom items are the first to arrive at the new home.
- For partners: Recognize that they’re likely leaving behind not just a home but also their own career and social networks. Offer career services or job connection resources to help maintain household stability during the move, while sharing network-building opportunities can help make the transition easier.
- For pets: Help provide families with pets a list of local vets, dog-friendly parks, groomers, and other pet services. Consider going the extra mile with a pet welcome basket, complete with treats, toys, and a new collar.
Relocating employees and their families requires thoughtful planning and support to ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved. Providing career services to partners, identifying pet-friendly services, and including small gestures for employees’ children demonstrate your commitment to their well-being.
To explore personalized solutions to meet your organization’s unique relocation needs, contact our team of experts. Hilldrup is here to help you make the most of your next corporate move.
