is a visible part of its workplace culture. Adds Olsson: “We’ve included relocation in our student programs to give younger, newer employees the chance to experience all the good that can come with a move early in their careers. We also work hard to share stories of relocation in our corporate communications to spread the word about the positives of relocation in general.” THE RIGHT PACKAGE The chance to gain experience in far-off countries (or cities) can be a differentiator for talent. So too can an employer’s ability to support assignees as they take advantage of these opportunities. Relocation packages can be a tool to set them apart. “We see there is a responsibility in ensuring that the relocation package is reason- able and transparent to the employee so that the new experience and industry exposure can be optimized,” says Olsson. Furthermore, relocation packages can be designed strategically to drive loyalty and match the outcomes of a specific assignment. According to Marin, “What we’ve done in our new policies is differentiated the level of financial support and incentives on the basis of the business drivers for the move. For example, if a well- performing and high-level employee is going on a more strategic assignment – whether that’s leading an operation or sharing know- ledge – they might get a little bit of a higher bag of goodies. And then, that package might look different someone who is going over to fill a technical gap or plug an issue for a temporary period…. There are subtle differentiations in the package based on different criteria and the rationale behind why we’re moving that person.” As mobility professionals know, relocation programs are about more than moving people from job A to opportunity B. They are about ensuring the right assignees are being moved, that they have the resources to thrive, and – perhaps more importantly – that there is a fulfilling role waiting for them when they return. As Marin explains, “They could have a fabulous mobility experience, but if there’s no job at the end of the day for them, or the job that’s waiting is far less challenging or important than what they came from, odds are they’re going to lose that momentum and look elsewhere. That, to me, is a failure on the company’s part to use mobility as a tool to promote and retain talent.” Facilitating a successful reintegration is a critical part of the mobility strategy – and one that some companies still erroneously view as an afterthought. “We need to be thinking about what our objectives are for an assignee when they return and offering a more robust and longer-term repatriation process that doesn’t just start the day before they’re due to come back,” stresses Marin. There’s a reason more employers are welcoming mobility experts and decision makers to the planning table. A strategic mobility program has the power to not only attract skills but to drive an organization’s vision. “Mobility has the ability to be seen much more strategically than it has in the past,” notes Hamer. “Now it can be part of an organization’s brand and a proposition to indi- viduals who are interested in those kinds of opportunities.” As such, Marin says the role of mobility is becoming more important each day. “We can no longer say we’re just those people who move employees from point A to point B and take care of all of the logistics behind the scenes,” she says. “Our role is becoming more critical and more integrated with the talent organization when it comes to developing policies that more closely represent what’s happening in the business, why they’re moving people, and what they truly hope to achieve from their relocations.” Winter 2018 PERSPECTIVES 29 Paramount Transportation Systems is a leader in the global household goods moving industry. Partnering with Paramount means that your employees' needs are cared for by our dedicated Move Managers who not only manage the physical aspects of the move, but also ensure adherence to global legislative compliance. Legal Compliance Diligent oversight and move management... THAT IS PARAMOUNT! What is Paramount to You? tor@pts-moves.com | www.paramount-canada.com Canada | Germany | Mexico | Singapore | United Kingdom | United States of America