So, you’re pleased with the performance of your relocation program? That’s great; go you! But better not rest on your laurels, because the healthcare talent shortage will get worse before it gets better. To ensure you stay competitive, it’s smart to prepare your relocation program for… well, whatever comes next.
And that’s where things get tricky. Because everything—technology, workers’ priorities, industry challenges—keeps changing, and there’s no crystal ball.
No, we can’t predict the future. But we can do the next best thing, which is to help you future-proof your relocation program. Consider these five timeless strategies for maintaining long-term relocation success…no matter what the future holds.
1. Foster a Culture of Flexibility
In high-stress, fast-moving fields like healthcare, flexibility is an invaluable trait. The more flexible you are as an employer, the more flexible your workforce will be, too. Flexibility allows healthcare organizations to adapt more easily to changing conditions and goals.
This applies to your relocation program, too. Rather than sticking with a rigid, one-size-fits-all policy, make sure your benefits are flexible enough to respond to changing conditions, as well as individual needs. Every employee’s situation is different—and everyone deserves a personalized relocation plan.
Need an extra house-hunting trip in a tough housing market? No problem. Prefer a low-key DIY move? Sure thing. The more flexible your relocation program is, the happier your people will be and the easier it will be to manage—today and going forward.
2. Leverage Relocation Technology
If you’re not already using a tech-based relocation solution like UrbanBound, now’s the time to upgrade. Otherwise, you’ll fall further behind a growing number of healthcare employers who’ve already made the switch.
In addition:
- Today’s healthcare professionals expect their employers to use cutting-edge tech. Relocation software bolsters your employer brand—a must for effective recruiting.
- Quality relocation software facilitates onboarding, helping new hires acclimate faster and more fully.
- Because relocation software automates processes like expense tracking and vendor management, it ensures greater efficiency and therefore a better employee experience—all while cutting costs.
These are crucial advantages that will never go out of style.
3. Forecast Likely Talent Gaps
Some hiring needs are unpredictable, but some employment trends can be tracked.
Specifically, many employers use their HR software analytics to map hiring and turnover patterns. And when the HR team collaborates with various department leaders, they can identify areas of likely growth.
In addition, keep abreast of industry recruiting trends. For example, according to one recent healthcare recruiting report, nurse practitioners, family doctors and OB/GYNs were the top three most in-demand specialists in 2023. How does that stack up to your experience?
4. Track Your Relocation Analytics
Monitoring your relocation program’s metrics (and making changes when indicated) will ensure it keeps performing for you—especially these three essential KPIs:
- Relocation Program Costs – How much does your average relocation cost? How do your costs break down? Tracking costs allows you to budget accurately, spot outliers, and finetune your program as needed.
- Employee Satisfaction – How happy are employees with various aspects of their relocation experience? Where are there opportunities for improvement?
- Time to Relocate – Time is money. Tracking how long it takes a healthcare professional to relocate and get to work allows you to staff better.
Where do you get this data? Solid relocation companies (especially the tech-based ones) make it available on demand—and survey newly-relocated employees, too. Learn more about analytics here.
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5. Prioritize the Employee Experience
Some elements impacting relocation invariably change. Mortgage rates go up and down. So do housing costs and availability. Sometimes, these make relocation more challenging.
But when you put your employees’ well-being at the center of your relocation program, you’ll know how to respond when such challenges arise. Making changes to your program is easier when your goal is clear and consistent.
In other words, when the goal of your relocation program is to deliver a positive relocation experience to every employee, every time, it will be destined for long-term success.
At UrbanBound, that’s what we’re all about—and that’s what we help some of the top names in healthcare achieve. Learn who they are and how we do it here.
