The Latest Report from Brookfield Global Relocation Services Stresses the Importance for HR Executives to Gain a Deeper Understanding of the Changing Environment and Unique Requirements of Employee Transfers from Developing Locations

Seven Common Challenges of Meeting the Needs of Employee Assignments from Developing Locations

WOODRIDGE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Managing international assignments for assignees has become more complex and comprehensive, raising a greater awareness for the international employee HR manager to provide a quality experience for relocating employees and their families. According to a new report from Brookfield Global Relocation Services, these assignments not only create new challenges but add some twists to existing assumptions typically held by mobility managers.

“Meeting the Challenges of Assignments from Developing Locations”

“Current trends are showing an increase in assignments from developing locations”, said Scott Sullivan, executive vice president of Brookfield Global Relocation Services. “Recognizing the changing international environment, it can no longer be business as usual. It will require more flexibility in a company’s approach and assignment policies in order to ensure an assignee is successful in a new location as well as avoiding costly errors often times associated with this type of assignment.”

The 2012 Brookfield Global Relocation Services Global Relocation Trends Survey identified this as an evolving trend: respondents reported that 46% of their assignees – almost half – were relocated to or from countries other than their company’s headquarters location. This percentage is up from 37%, when the question was first asked seven years ago. While this statistic also includes assignments other than those from developing locations, the emergence of non-headquarters or non-Western country assignees is a part of a growing movement.

During the fourth quarter of 2012, Brookfield GRS conducted in-depth interviews with mobility leaders from several global companies addressing their experiences in managing assignees from developing locations. Previous unforeseen circumstances were brought to light during these discussions and included various solutions to consider in meeting those special requirements. Insight gathered during these interviews formed the basis for the “Meeting the Challenges of Assignments from Developing Locations”, the report which features detailed case studies analyzing the unique and differing situations these companies face and how they are dealing with them.

Through the course of our interviews, we identified the following as the seven most common issues faced by companies when reassigning an employee to a developing location:

• Compensation
• Cost of Assignments
• Family Needs
• Cultural Barriers
• Language Barriers
• Talent Management and Repatriation
• Immigration Requirements

The case studies delve into brand new challenges and offer insight into how these companies are modifying their existing approaches or developing new ones to address the issues that international assignments present. By doing so, the case studies provide an opportunity for other companies to evaluate how these approaches might be applicable to their own programs.

While some of these issues are similar to those in the domestic relocation process, the above-mentioned report provides examples of real world, international situations already experienced by the companies we surveyed. With detailed discussions on lessons learned, the report not only provides fresh ideas to enhance the individual relocation experience within a given company, it advances HR executives overall effectiveness in anticipating trends to meet their on-going needs around the world.

To obtain a full complimentary copy of the “Meeting The Challenges of Assignments from Developing Locations” report or to listen to a recording of a webinar highlighting the reports key findings go to: http://www.brookfieldgrs.com/knowledge/grts_research/

About Brookfield Global Relocation Services

Brookfield Global Relocation Services is a full service provider of corporate and government relocation and assignment management services to more than 500 corporate and government clients. Brookfield Global Relocation Services manages over 80,000 relocations throughout the world annually. Brookfield Global Relocation Services is an operating company of Brookfield Residential Property Services, a leading global provider of real estate and relocation services, technology, and knowledge.