Learning & Development

3 Ways to Reduce Turnover for Relocated Employees

Some of your new recruits may be required to relocate—don’t lose them right off the bat! In today’s Advisor, we present an article from Jeff Ellman, cofounder and president of UrbanBound, a relocation management software provider reshaping the way employers offer and administer relocation benefits to their employees. Ellman’s tips can help employers ensure their recruiting efforts for relocated employees will not be in vain.

High employee turnover rates can wreak havoc on your business. But reducing turnover is easier said than done, especially when it comes to relocated employees. Although turnover rates are exceptionally high for relocated new hires, retention is also a concern for employees who are being asked to relocate.
But what if the relocation process could be leveraged to reduce turnover rates? With the right approach, you can transform the relocation process into a resource that improves retention and creates a more satisfied workforce.

How Relocation Impacts Employee Turnover

A corporate relocation is a major life event. Whether the employee is a new hire or a proven team member, a job-based relocation involves a variety of challenges—all of which can impact the employee’s long-term relationship with your company.

  • Housing logistics. Relocated employees face dozens of housing-related hurdles, from selling their homes, to selecting a moving company, to finding a place to live in their new city.
  • Getting acquainted. Just learning how to get around a new city can be a formidable task. It takes time for relocated employees to identify transportation options, restaurants, grocery stores, and other services that local employees take for granted.
  • Family transition. A job-related relocation is stressful for the entire family. Spouses, kids, and other family members may be required to find new jobs, new schools, and new friends.
  • Job concerns. On top of everything else, relocated employees must manage the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with starting a new job. In some cases, dissatisfaction with the job itself—not the relocation—pushes employees out the door.

Negative experiences or dissatisfaction in any one of these areas increases your risk of losing a talented employee. As a result, it’s in your company’s best interest to manage the relocation process in a way that helps employees and their families quickly adapt to their new location.


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Improving Retention Rates for Relocated Employees

Negative relocation experiences increase turnover rates. To improve workforce retention rates, proactively support relocated employees with tools and resources that make the transition as painless as possible.

  1. Educate employees about their new locations.

When you ask employees to relocate, you’re asking them to leave behind places and routines that they know and love. For many people, the process of being thrust into unfamiliar surroundings can be terrifying.
By providing relocated employees with hyperlocal information about their new city, you can eliminate much of the anxiety that is associated with a work-related move. Plan on providing employees with general information about their new cities as well as details about the best neighborhoods, parking, public transit, restaurants, and other topics.

  1. Maintain clear lines of communication.

During the transition, employees expect to receive routine communications from their employer. Rather than leaving them in the dark, touch base with relocating employees a few times a week. With a regular communication schedule, you can make sure that the employee’s needs are being met and initiate the individual’s transition into the workplace.
Many employers are using automated communications to stay in touch with employees during the transition period. The distribution of strategic e-mails or other forms of communication on a set schedule reduces the burden on HR staff. But more importantly, it reduces turnover by making the move less intimidating to employees.

  1. Provide step-by-step assistance.

City-specific information and regular communication are valuable, but they aren’t enough to ensure that employees have a successful relocation experience. Relocation isn’t a simple process. To improve the satisfaction levels of relocated employees, you’ll need to assist them every step of the way.
After you have clearly communicated your company’s relocation policy (including reimbursement amounts and processes), provide employees with the tools they need to plan and execute their move. Web-based relocation technologies offer checklists, calculators, and other step-by-step planning resources that streamline the process for both the employee and the HR team.

We can all agree that moving can be a challenging experience, but relocating for work doesn’t have to be. A carefully crafted relocation strategy helps your business capitalize on the excitement and optimism of a work-related move—reducing turnover by significantly increasing the satisfaction and happiness of relocated employees.
The related challenges of retention and turnover are on every HR manager’s front burner. Turnover is your organization’s most debilitating disease. Retention—of the people you want to retain—is the backbone of your organization’s success. Gain an advantage with the new guide, Employee Retention and Satisfaction: How to Attract, Retain, and Engage the Best Talent at Your Organization. For a limited time, enter code HRPLAYMAY to receive 15% off the print or download versions!
This second HR Playbook from BLR explores the many facets of retention and engagement, giving practical guidance, new approaches, and proven methods for achieving excellence in these challenging times.


Once you have top talent, be sure to retain them! It’s all in the new HR Playbook, Employee Retention and Satisfaction: How to Attract, Retain, and Engage the Best Talent at Your Organization. Save 15% on both print and download versions when you enter code HRPLAYMAY at checkout.


Learn about the following crucial issues regarding retention and employee satisfaction:

  • The high cost of undesirable turnover
  • Recruiting and hiring for the long haul
  • Management’s role in retention
  • The value of strong mentoring
  • Perks that employees truly value
  • And much more!

When do you start thinking about retention? On day one. Start strategizing today with Employee Retention and Satisfaction: How to Attract, Retain, and Engage the Best Talent at Your Organization.
Click here to learn more or order your copy today!

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