Post-Relocation Support: Strategies for Continued Employee Engagement and Performance

Congratulations, you did it! You found the perfect applicant, sold them on the job and helped orchestrate a successful relocation. Now, it’s time to celebrate, yes?

Actually…not so fast. 

Yes, this is a major accomplishment. But your amazing new hire hasn’t actually proven themselves. So, don’t pop the champagne just yet.

Here’s the reality: in order to ensure that your newly relocated employee not only acclimates, but becomes a shining star, you’ll need to provide them with post-relocation support.

It’s All Connected: Relocation, Adaptation, Retention

Hiring and relocating a new employee is a big investment. But there’s no guarantee that they’ll stick around, let alone go on to succeed.

Statistically speaking, your new—and especially newly relocated—employees are at higher risk of bailing or failing than your long-timers. Consider these findings:

• According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), turnover rates for relocated employees are substantially higher than for their homegrown peers.
• Gallup Research reports that, across the board, new hire turnover rates are as high as 50% in the first 18 months of employment. 
• Per a recent productivity survey, 81% of managers say that it takes at least six months for their new hires to become fully productive.

So, who’s going to set them up for success?

Darwin Was Right: Adaptation Is All

New job, new home, new community…newly relocated employees and their families have a great deal of adapting to do.

That includes everything from solving logistical puzzles (where’s the grocery store? what’s my best commuting option?) to workplace dynamics (where do I fit in with this team/organization?).

It means bridging cultural differences in both the workplace and community. And because humans are social animals, it means forming new relationships, too.

Because until new hires feel comfortable in their environment—i.e., adapt—they can’t possibly perform at their best.

Providing 5-Star Post-Relocation Support 

The point of post-relocation support is to accelerate your new employees’ acclimation, so they become the rockstars you hired them to be. Here’s five ways to accomplish this. 

Encouraging your current employees to share tips and knowledge with their new colleagues is valuable on several levels. Practically, it helps newbies find their way around faster. Socially, it opens up lines of communication, laying the basis for strong working relationships.