Red tape is another common roadblock. LMIA-based applications can take over two months, and visa applications can take up to half a year depending on the embassy involved. While these delays are often inevitable, Provencher says the key for Ubisoft is to manage expectations and provide ongoing support. “The lengthy work permit processing delays can be very stressful for an employee and his family. The international mobility specialists explain the whole process from day one and are in constant communication with employees and their families,” she says. Providing support during the immigration process is indeed critical. While there are immigration programs to help Canadian companies fill their ranks – such as B.C.’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) High-Tech Pilot program – Bower emphasizes the importance of employers staying with their talent throughout the process and addressing any issues that crop up. As she explains, “Most of our employees foresee living in Canada for the long term, so we support them through the immigration process in order to help them settle into their new job in Canada as seam- lessly as possible.” Yet another common challenge is acclimating relocated employees to their new environment. Here again, both Ubisoft and MDA take measures to ease the transition, be it through orientation programs, language training, spousal support and, in the case of MDA, flexible “lump sum” relocation packages to offset the living expenses in high-cost destinations like Vancouver. “We are always exploring different avenues on how we can further enhance the relocation experience and provide further support during the onboarding process,” says Bowers. “We have high staffing demands in an extremely competitive high-tech market. To continue to be successful, we need to source and entice the talent to move to our locations throughout Canada.” Without question, relocating employees – be it globally or between provinces – can be a complex and drawn-out undertaking, with many unforeseen stumbling blocks encountered along the way. For most companies, overcoming these challenges is an ongoing struggle requiring much time, resources and attention. That said, mobility remains a critical part of their business model, and in today’s global marketplace, its importance is only likely to grow. CORPORATE MOBILITY PERSPECTIVES P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S D I R E C T O R Y ACCOMMODATIONS Cartier Place Suite Hotel................................................................ Digital www.suitedreams.com Corporate Stays.........................................................................................9 www.corporatestays.com Staybridge Suites Oakville Burlington...................................................21 www.staybridge.com/oakvilleon TownePlace Suites Mississauga..............................................................21 www.marriott.com/yyzts EXTENDED STAY Les Suites – Ottawa................................................................................17 www.les-suites.com MORTGAGE SERVICES CIBC Group Mortgage Plan.................................................................19 www.cibc.com MOVING & STORAGE SERVICES Atlas Van Lines Canada Ltd. .....................................Inside Back Cover www.atlasvanlines.ca Mayflower Canada ................................................................................15 www.mayflower.ca United Van Lines (Canada) Ltd. ..........................................................15 www.uvl.ca PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Pro-Check Home Services Inc. .............................................................21 www.tsycco.com REALTOR RE/MAX Ultimate Realty Inc. Brokerage – Barry Lebow................21 www.barrylebow.com REAL ESTATE RE/MAX Hallmark Lind Group Realty Ltd. .....................................18 www.hallmarkrealty.com RELOCATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES CARTUS................................................................................................15 www.cartus.com Relonat.........................................................................Inside Front Cover www.relonat.com SIRVA, Inc. ..............................................................................................5 www.ca.sirva.com TheMIGroup..........................................................................................11 www.themigroup.com TRC Global Mobility, Inc. ......................................................................3 www.trcglobalmobility.com Weichert Workforce Mobility..................................Outside Back Cover www.weichertwm.com TAX SERVICES Trowbridge Professional Corporation...................................................21 www.trowbridge.ca VEHICLE RELOCATION L Hansen’s Forwarding Vehicle Relocation............................................7 www.lhf.com Snowbirds Auto Connection Ltd. .........................................................10 www.snowbirdsautoconnection.com VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION Snowbirds Auto Connection Ltd. .........................................................10 www.snowbirdsautoconnection.com 22 PERSPECTIVES Summer 2018