American’s are relocating to cities where there are better job opportunities and or lower taxes. In the past we’ve posted on the Happiest Places to Relocate to in the United States (and in the world). Now we’re posting on the fastest growing cities according to Forbes.com‘s methodology which combines population grow with economic growth to determine the fastest growing cities. Some you might expect to be growing at a faster rate because of lower taxes and a better business environment however, there are also some cities that are growing in spite of their higher taxes due to being popular locations to live.

What are the fastest growing cities in the US?

Here are the top ten fastest growing cities in the United States:

1. Austin, TX
2. Dallas, TX
3. San Jose, CA
4. Houston, TX
5. Salt Lake City, UT
6. Raleigh, NC
7. Seattle, WA
8. San Francisco, CA
9. San Antonio, TX
10. Atlanta, GA

View slideshow with data on each city.

Why are some cities growing faster than others?

Forbes writes “Seven of the top 10 cities are in the South, supporting the idea that low taxes and inexpensive real estate are still drawing jobs and economic activity from other parts of the country.” In addition, 4 of the top 10 cities are in Texas which has no income tax and much lower property values than other states which makes it a popular landing spot for corporations. Also, corporations like that fact that Texas is centrally located in the United States and international airports in Houston and in the Dallas-Fort Worth area offer easy access to new markets in Latin America as well.

Filed under: Blog Post, Social Media, The Best Thinking... |

Paragon is delighted to announce that Joseph Morabito, Founder and CEO of Paragon Global Resources was recently named International Relocation Personality of the Year by Re:locate magazine.  Morabito was nominated for his entrepreneurial spirit and long-term service to the global relocation industry.  With more than 32 years of experience, his entrepreneurial solutions and visionary approach have made a significant impact on the relocation industry.  When accepting his award, Morabito thanked his staff saying, “I appreciate the recognition. But individuals don’t win awards: teams do. It’s the people at Paragon who won this.”

View the video of Joseph Morabito accepting his award.

Paragon Relocation was also honored in the highly commended category for Relocation Provider or Team of the Year for their implementation of a large scale, complex global relocation program.  Paragon was a single source solution to replace four separate global relocation service providers. In just three months, the implementation – involving more than 50 client Human Resources managers from all over the world – was complete. Logistically, client users were spread over 82 different countries. Financially, services were billed in 22 different currencies.  Paragon worked quickly and effectively with the client to bring synergy to the group and to bring all the pieces of the program together successfully.

Re:locate is a European-based publication that caters to the global mobility industry.  The annual awards gala was held on May 10, 2012 in London. For a complete list of all the Re:locate award winners view the press release.

Filed under: Announcement, Blog Post, Events, The Best Thinking... |

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games are scheduled in London from July 27 through August 12 and will present a complex challenge for anyone planning employee assignments.

Delays, Delays, Delays

The UK Border agency and customs department will increase security checks, so delays will start occurring three to four months before the opening of the Olympics.  Delays are specifically to be expected in VISA processing, household goods clearance and delivery, as shipments will be held longer in ports.  In addition, partial closure of London streets and access restrictions will force moving companies to deliver an increasing amount of shipments in a restricted number of hours per day.

Shortage of Properties and Price Increases

A shortage of temporary accommodations is to be expected, especially in the central London and nearby locations.  Because of limited supply of property and an increase in demand, temporary accommodations and long-term lease prices are expected to rise.  These are expected to rise anywhere from 12-25% during the summer months.  Most London realtors are reluctant to talk about short-term tenancies during the Olympics period.  This is because many properties are already booked (with many properties remaining empty until the games draw closer).  Many realtors cannot predict how many or what type of properties will become available for short rentals approaching the Olympics, or what the rental price may be.  However, as the games continue to draw closer, the costs will become increasingly higher.

Avoiding a Budget Increase

Corporations should consider alternatives such as delaying the assignment until after the summer season, to September at the earliest.  If temporary accommodations have not been booked in advance, it is a good idea for global mobility specialists to organize a home search trip before relocating the employee so that they can avoid the need for a serviced apartment.   This home search trip should absolutely not occur during the dates of the Olympics or shortly before or after.

Because of the challenges and unique situations the London Games present, communication is very crucial with relocating employees as well.  They should understand that they will need to be more flexible than usual as it relates to household goods delivery, homesearch time, and the location and costs of serviced apartments.

Summary

Be prepared.  London was awarded the Olympic Games years ago so there should be no surprise that the laws of supply and demand will have a profound effect during this time.  Educated pre-planning of how the “Olympic effect” will impact you and your employees, and communicating with suppliers to develop best strategies, will be worth the investment of time and focus, and will assist with maintaining optimal delivery and performance of your mobility program.

Filed under: Blog Post, Client Advisory |

Business travel is not business as usual. It can be an ordeal where you’re crowded into small spaces, standing in long lines, all the while moving heavy luggage among the masses. Imagine a world where traveling was a lot easier. As many of the executives who read this blog know, relocation and business travel go hand and hand. While the pain of travel may not be completely alleviated there are some things you can do to make it significantly less painful. Recently we wrote about how to deal with jet lag now we want to help you deal with airport security lines making travel effortless.

How to get access to elite or priority security lines at airports

There are several ways to get access to expedited security lines. The most common way is being invited to join by your airline because of frequent flyer status. However, there are other ways to get access through a couple of new programs announced by the TSA. For those that travel internationally several times a year they launched a program called Global Entry. Once accepted into Global Entry you can proceed to the expedited security lines. To get access to Global Entry you must apply through the Global Entry website, pay a $100 background check fee and interview with a TSA agent at an airport on their list near you. In addition, Platinum level and above American Express members can enroll for free (they are charged $100 and then $100 is credited to their account). Using expedited access can significantly reduce the amount time you are standing in line. In addition to getting expedited security access you can speed up your time at the airport by being mindful of TSA guidelines and using their recommended accessories.

What are TSA Approved Travel Accessories?

Here is a list of TSA approved accessories which will help you pass through the airport without issues:
TSA Approved Bag Locks
TSA Approved Laptop Bags which don’t require the laptop be taken out of the bag
And a long list of approved and not approved TSA items

What are your tips to help get through the airport faster? Let us know on facebook, twitter and linkedin!

Filed under: Blog Post, Social Media, The Best Thinking... |

If you are in the San Antonio area, come see us at Booth 500 at Worldwide ERC’s National Relocation Conference.  Paragon Relocation along with our sister company, GenEquity Mortgage, will be exhibiting May 9-11^th.  Stop by for a free cupcake to celebrate our 25^th Anniversary. 

Registration for the conference is free to first-time corporate HR attendees so make plans to be there.  Additionally, Paragon Relocation’s President, Craig Selders, will be speaking on leadership during the YP40 session on Thursday.  So get on down to Texas y’all!

Filed under: Announcement, Blog Post, ERC, Events |

If your travels ever take you to a land other than your own one of the best ways to enjoy and experience the culture is to take in a soccer (also known as “football”) match. Soccer is the worlds most popular game for good reason. It is a game that can easily be played by the poorest of the poor and the elites a like. Children in the worlds ghettos even play the game without a proper ball if need be, they can take plastic bags and roll them up into a ball to kick around.

Soccer is especially popular in Europe and Latin America but is even growing in Asia and North America (the north american soccer league, Major League Soccer, has just surpassed attendance averages of both the NBA and the NHL becoming america’s third best attended sport). To enjoy the game it is important to explore the nuances of the game as compared to other games you are more familiar with. One major difference between soccer and many other sports is that there are very few stoppages of play, it is a very open free-flowing game. In addition, the game is divided into two halves of 45 minutes each (plus extra time). If the ball goes out-of-bounds the clock will continue running. While soccer players typically do a lot of running in a match (on average about 10 miles a game) often times games are known for being low scoring affairs where one team is trying to unlock the other team’s defense. The pressure of the match will continue to rise until a team scores and the crowd goes crazy.

Among the most watched soccer matches are often played in Europe, where clubs from different countries have the ability to attract the best players in the world with high paying contracts. For club teams the most anticipated competition is the UEFA Champions League where the best teams from each country face off against other teams in Europe.

One of the most important aspects of enjoying a soccer match is seeing and hearing the sights and sounds of the match. In the United States at sporting events it is common to hear the sounds of the crowd intermingled with power audio-visual effects provided by the stadium. However at soccer matches it is more common to hear the supporters sing in organized songs to support their teams. In some soccer environments you might even see or hear fireworks being set off to celebrate the exploits of a supporter’s team.

In addition to aspects of international soccer matches which are generally true, there are also nuances to how soccer is experienced in various countries throughout the world. Recently, I had the opportunity to experience a soccer match in Rome Italy between AS Roma and Udinese, in addition to a great match, during halftime we enjoyed the experience of seeing a full-blown espresso and panini stand in place of the typical concessions you would find in the states. So my advice is when in Rome, drink espresso at your soccer matches!

Soccer Resources

Basic Soccer Rules
FIFA International Soccer Organization
Soccer News, Scores, and Schedules

Filed under: Blog Post, Social Media, The Best Thinking... |

Serviced Apartments are types of furnished temporary housing that generally fall into two categories. The first category is Extended Stay Hotels; these typically offer a 24 hour reception desk and are furnished hotel rooms with small kitchenettes. While the second category of serviced apartments is what is called Corporate Housing. Typically corporate housing is for stays of 30 days or more and are often in furnished apartments and include cleaning services, utilities, and local taxes. Extended Stay Hotels often offer cheaper rates than traditional hotels because rates can be grouped into weekly or monthly segments.

The ability to find the perfect place for someone relocating can be difficult, thankfully there are a lot of options to choose from to meet the needs of each person. Below we have listed the 15 largest global serviced apartment companies based on the number of locations and linked to their websites. Each company offers a different approach and even within each company from property to property there might be nuances that are a better match for a particular family.

Global Serviced Apartment suppliers by Location

Please let us know about your experience with a serviced apartment in the comments or on linkedin, facebook or twitter!

Filed under: Blog Post, The Best Thinking... |

By Amanda Ward, Paragon’s Director of Global Consulting Services based in London, UK        

As we move into summer and begin planning those wonderful vacations, we examine a common ailment and some cures to combat the symptoms that can range from simply unpleasant to almost debilitating.  Most people who have traveled by airplane have experienced jet lag but few people understand why it occurs.

What is jet lag?

Jet lag is a medical condition known as desynchronosis; a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body’s circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance travel on a jet airplane. Jet lag occurs when a body clock falls out of synchronization with the destination time. The body experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed; therefore, the body’s natural patterns are upset. Rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and body temperature variations no longer correspond to the new environment. While the body realigns the rhythms and the new daily routine, it is “jet lagged.” NASA estimates that the body requires approximately one day per time zone to adjust its circadian rhythm.

Who suffers from jet lag?

Anyone can suffer from jet lag, regardless of how often they travel by plane or their age. However, it is more common in people over the age of 60 and thought to be less common in babies and children. The speed at which the body adjusts to the new schedule depends on the individual; some people may require several days to adjust to a new time zone, while others experience little disruption.

What are jet lag symptoms?

The symptoms of jet lag are different for everyone, and also depend on how many time zones you have crossed and in which direction you have traveled. Usually it makes you feel tired and low in energy during the day. It disturbs your sleep, so you may have trouble getting off to sleep, or wake up often at night or early in the morning. You might have difficulty concentrating, and be a bit clumsy or irritable because you are so tired. You may also have other symptoms, such as indigestion, altered bowel habits and low appetite, and feel generally unwell.

Natural ways to combat jet lag

Since the experience of jet lag varies among individuals, it is difficult to recommend one specific remedy. Gradual adjustment over the course of several days, while maintaining a regular sleep length of seven to eight hours should reduce fatigue. To avoid jet lag think ahead and synchronize your body clock before you travel. If you’re traveling east, try going to bed earlier for a couple of nights. If you’re traveling west, go to bed later.

The following suggestions can also help to reduce the effects of jet lag:

• Drink plenty of water before, during and after the flight to avoid dehydration.
• Don’t drink lots of alcohol. The pressurized air in the airplane increases body dehydration substantially, and alcohol affects the body clock by not giving you a full and refreshing sleep.
• A short episode of moderately intense exercise may help reset your body clock after arrival.
• Try to fit in with the daily routine and activities of the new time zone as soon as possible – eat when they eat and sleep (or at least rest) when they sleep.
• When the goal is to catch-up with local time (vs. fall-back to), avoid afternoon naps and eat an early and carbohydrates-rich, low-protein dinner.
• As soon as you board your flight, adjust your watch to the destination time.
• If you arrive in the evening, try not to sleep too much on the plane so that you can go to bed when you arrive. And sleep as much as you can if your flight arrives in the morning, so you can stay awake through the day.
• Natural light can help your body clock adjust. If you traveled west, try to get more morning light after you arrive and avoid it in the afternoon. If you went east, seek afternoon light and avoid morning light.

Lastly, know yourself and plan your travel accordingly. Can you sleep on planes or not? If you can sleep soundly whilst you travel through the air, then schedule your flight to include an “overnight” trip which means one that arrives at your destination in the morning. If you can only snooze for a few moments, you should schedule a “daytime” flight that lands in the late afternoon or evening, at which time you’ll be so exhausted from a prolonged lack of sleep that you’ll be able to fall asleep at the right time.

Filed under: Articles, Blog Post, The Best Thinking... |

Paragon Relocation, a leading provider of global relocation management services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Williams as Director, Global Client Accounting at Paragon’s Coppell, Tx service center. In this newly created position, Williams will be responsible for expanding Paragon’s Global Client Accounting team and executing client contracts, guidelines, policies and procedures.

“Everyone at Paragon is delighted to bring Steve on board to provide an extraordinary financial experience to our clients and customers,” said Craig Selders, President, Paragon Relocation. “Steve brings decades of client accounting and global compensation knowledge and education to Paragon.”

Prior to joining Paragon, Williams previously worked for Cartus and Primacy as Director, Expense Services. In his most recent role, Williams managed a team handling new client implementations as well as providing on-going support for existing corporate clients. His experience also includes managing Solomon and Equus software applications.

Williams has more than 20 years of industry experience and holds a Certified Relocation Professional (CRP) designation from Worldwide ERC^®.

Filed under: Announcement, Blog Post, Paragon Press, Press Release, Uncategorized |

Paragon Relocation, a leading provider of global relocation management services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Myers as Director, Global Client Accounting at Paragon’s Coppell, Tx service center. In this newly created position, Myers will be responsible for expanding Paragon’s Global Client Accounting team and executing client contracts, guidelines, policies and procedures.

“Susan’s industry experience and knowledge will undoubtedly make an immediate and substantial impact on our company,” said Craig Selders, President, Paragon Relocation.

Prior to joining Paragon, Myers previously worked for Prudential Relocation as Global Compensation Manager. During her time at Prudential, Myers significantly expanded the Compensation Service offerings, building a global center of excellence in the Phoenix office. During her tenure, Myers’ responsibilities also included oversight of the cost management function for key clients. She also led the financial operations of Liquid Production as their controller.

Myers holds a bachelor of science in Accounting and an MBA both from the University of Phoenix.  She has also received the Global Mobility Specialist (GMS) designation from Worldwide ERC^®.

Filed under: Announcement, Blog Post, Press Release, Uncategorized |

Paragon Relocation is excited to announce that we have been shortlisted for two awards in the upcoming Re:locate Awards.  Paragon’s CEO, Joseph Morabito, has been nominated and shortlisted for Relocation Personality of the Year for his years of exemplary leadership and service to the relocation industry.  Additionally, a select group of Paragon Relocation employees, who worked on a major client implementation encompassing more than 50 individual HR managers spread out over 20 different countries, is also shortlisted for Relocation Team of the Year.  We are honored and excited to be considered for these prestigious awards and wish all of our fellow nominees good luck!

Filed under: Announcement, Blog Post, The Best Thinking... |

How do you create a perfect work-life balance in your life? Do you think that relocating to another country might help you achieve that goal? Some of us are so buried in our work, doing the work of several people at once. Maybe a change of scenery is all that is needed to help balance work and life.

In the past we have written about online tools to compare different countries, about the happiest places to relocate, about how to have a good work-life balance while on international assignment, about how to have a good life while on assignment and even a two-part series on why you need to accept that international assignment (part 1 and part 2.) So I guess you could say we’re passionate about the relocation of people overseas. We want people to have the best possible experience while there – we want the experience to be good for them, their family and their corporation.

Recently OCED published their work-life balance index of countries around the world based on a number of factors including housing, income, jobs, community, education, environment, governance, health, life satisfaction, safety and work-life balance. This last criteria work-life balance is determined by “the number of employees working long hours; the percentage of working mothers; and the time people devote to leisure and personal activities” in each country. Overall Australia was ranked with the best work-life balance according to the criteria above. Below you will find how each member country ranked according to their different factors. To read more about the report please click here.

What countries have the best work-life balance?

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Sweden
4. New Zealand
5. Norway
6. Denmark
7. United States
8. Switzerland
9. Finland
10. Netherlands
11. Luxembourg
12. Iceland
13. United Kingdom
14. Austria
15. Ireland
16. Germany
17. Belgium
18. France
19. Japan
20. Israel
21. Slovenia
22. Spain
23. Czech Republic
24. Italy
25. Poland
26. Korea
27. Greece
28. Slovak Republic
29. Hungary
30. Portugal
31. Estonia
32. Chile
33. Mexico
34. Turkey

The truth is that no matter what country you live in you can have a good or bad work-life balance. Therefore it is up to you to develop good patterns from the start. For some it might mean turning the email off between certain hours or scheduling down time. For others it might mean finding a hobby which allows you to get some mental distance away from the issues at work. While for others signing up for an international assignment will provide the perfect opportunity to hit the “refresh” button on their own work-life balance. Do you think that a relocation might be your next step to finding a good work-life balance? Finding a way to balance your life is in your hands. Choosing a work-life pattern that works for you will yield results in both your professional and personal life.

Filed under: Articles, Blog Post |

Do you consider yourself a good tipper? In some countries a tip may be taken as insult in certain situations. Therefore is it best to know what the generally accepted tipping practices are in a country before you travel there for your international assignment. While eating out at a restaurant in North America it is assumed that the patrons will give an extra 15-20% tip based on the service while in parts of Asia it is assumed that no additional tip will be given at a meal and might even be insulting if a tip was given. Below we will offer some quick advice on tipping in different countries from travel supply site, Magellans.com, and an infographic on tipping from personal finance site, Mint.com.

What is the tipping etiquette in…

Asia and the Pacific: Special care must be taken to insure that your well-meaning gesture is not taken as insulting. If you are unsure, it is best not to tip. If possible, observe the locals and follow their lead.

Europe: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill. In most cases, an additional tip is unnecessary. If no service charge is added to your bill 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, a dollar per bag will be appreciated.

Middle East/Africa: While your tip will not be seen as insulting, it may be unnecessary. Once again, the best bet is to do as the locals do.

Central/South America: Many hotels and restaurants add a service charge to the bill, and an additional tip is unnecessary. If not, 10% is the general rule for restaurant service, and a dollar per bag will be appreciated.

How much am I expected to tip in countries around the world?

(Click to Enlarge)

Let us know if you have any international travel tipping advice to add to the above!

Filed under: Blog Post, Social Media, The Best Thinking... |

Gobble Gobble! (That’s turkey for “Happy Thanksgiving!”).

Paragon would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving wherever they are celebrating the American holiday in the world.

Paragon’s CEO, Joseph Morabito said the following about Thanksgiving today:

I want to wish all of our clients, customers and employees a happy and safe Thanksgiving. This particular holiday is a good time to take a deep breath and give thanks for our families, friends and health. And no matter what our possessions, all of us should be thankful for the blessings we have, and think of those who are less fortunate with a charitable heart. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on God’s blessings because they are real for all of us.

What’s the history of Thanksgiving?

Check out this great infographic on the history of Thanksgiving compared to how Thanksgiving is celebrated today!

We are thankful for all our clients and customers giving us a chance to do what we love. What are you thankful for?

Filed under: Blog Post, Social Media, The Best Thinking... |

How do HR managers find time to be excellent managers of their Relocation Program and yet balance the other duties of their jobs? Today many people are not only doing the work of one position but of a number of positions. To be good at managing a Relocation Program while saving time you need to develop a smart program that requires less attention on a daily basis so that you can work on the big picture of making your program better.  Abraham Lincoln said “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time”. If you can improve your Relocation Program one day at a time it will make a significant difference in the amount of time needed to manage your program down the line. What small steps can you take today to make your Relocation Program run more efficiently? Below you will find our tips on how to save time as a Relocation Manager and improve your Relocation Program in the process.

How to Save Time as a Relocation Manager

Start Smart. Sometimes a fresh start is the best approach to getting a handle on a Relocation Program. Getting it right from the beginning has a disproportional effect on the amount of time needed later on to manage a Relocation Program. When you start your Relocation Program make sure that it meets the goals of the program and can be administered effectively for all employees being relocated by your company. Does your program meet the up-to-date best practices of leading Relocation Programs in your industry? Sometimes you don’t need to completely start fresh but perhaps you can just “refresh” your Relocation Program with Relocation Policy and Program Development to maximize efficiencies. Program development takes your current program and it simply updates your program based on industry best practices and makes it competitive with other companies in your industry.

Don’t Major on the Minors. Prioritize what you’re focusing on. While it is important to keep track of the many different relocations that happen under your management it may not be necessary to focus on the minutiae of every detail of each move. With limited time it is wise to consider what would be the best use of your time if can’t do everything at once. By thinking of your program as a whole you might be able to think of better ways to structure your program over all to save time in the future.

Merge the Meetings. Often times there are opportunities to reduce the number of meetings related to HR, Talent Management, and Relocation by combining the meetings that involve a number of people who touch each of these areas. In addition, discuss with your team if there are opportunities to cut down on the number of meetings and their duration. It might be possible to eliminate certain meetings entirely with a few routine “reply to all” emails each week. Tim Ferriss of the 4 Hour Work Week recommends setting a clear agenda and end time for each meeting to keep meetings short and effective.

Better Living through Technology. Your Relocation Program needs to be introduced to the 21st century. Technology should simply work when you want it to. You shouldn’t have to fight your relocation technology to be successful. Unfortunately many relocation companies today still use archaic technology platforms that haven’t kept pace with a smart phone world. Your relocation technology platform should be automated so that it speaks to your company’s Payroll platform, HRIS systems, Recruiting Talent Management platforms and other company systems eliminating the need for time consuming data entry. In addition, it should be the one-stop-shop for information for all your transferees and all possible relocation benefits that your company offers. Finally, real-time data tracking and reporting is essential. Relocation reporting that is accurate, easy to understand and yet comprehensive is crucial to making executive decisions on-the-fly.  To save time managing your Relocation Program you need technology to work with you not against you. (We don’t mean to brag but this technology platform sounds a lot like Paragon’s recently launched, PRISM 2.0 web based relocation management program. Let us know if you would like be included in a webinar demo!)

Outsource the Operation. There are many different ways that relocation is managed from programs that are managed completely in-house at a corporation to programs that are completely outsourced to a relocation services company, and with everything in between. For clients of International Relocation Services companies such as, Paragon Relocation, they offer almost every possible form of outsourcing of the relocation function. Are there elements of your Relocation Program that you don’t have a want to hold onto? Consider discussions with a relocation management company about taking that off your hands. It’s possible that once that piece of your program is managed by a relocation company there would be cost savings related innovations to your Relocation Program design, as well as opportunities to reduce overhead. With Paragon, for example, we offer many other services other than Relocation Management one of which is Visa and Immigration services, would outsourcing this part of the program save you time and money? We have found that many companies prefer to have one provider for Relocation and Immigration services because it allows for more competitive pricing and the opportunity to only manage one supplier which saves more time.

Schedule the Stressful. When you pick up and move everything in someone’s life there are inevitably are going to be ups and downs. The amount of goods being moved might exceed the limit allowed by your corporate relocation policy, or your employee needs special assistance to relocate a pet, or worse there are challenges getting your employee’s home sold. How can you deal with these pressing issues without losing track of other tasks at hand? Schedule them into your day. Set apart 30 minutes or 1 hour a  day or a week to take control of the stressful elements of relocation. Attack them head on to clear them off your plate first and other items on your to-do lists will be easier to accomplish. On other days when you have no pressing relocation issues at hand you can use that time to educate yourself about relocation so that you will be quicker on your feet next time a decision needs to be made. There are plenty of resources online to learn about relocation including Relocation related LinkedIn.com Groups and industry sites such as WorldwideERC.org. The information you learn on these sites will be helpful when confronted with a new relocation challenge.

Managing relocation by itself is a full-time job, add on to that other responsibilities and it can become quite difficult. However there are many HR managers who have been gracefully pulling this off for years. What are your tips and advice for effectively managing relocation for your corporation? Let us know in the comments on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook or below!

Filed under: Blog Post, The Best Thinking... |

Our post series from last week on Why You Need to Accept that International Assignment generated a lot of buzz on social media sites, especially on the LinkedIn.com Discussion Groups. The conversation that this generated and the comments from former International Assignees could be really helpful for people making the decision about going on an International Assignment so we want to pass on the best of the advice that was generated as a result of those conversations. Would you recommend taking an International Assignment with children? Leave your recommendations or advice in the comment section below or tweet @ParagonRelo on twitter!

Should I take my child on an International Assignment?

Here are responses to the question “Would you recommend taking an International Assignment with children?”:

Lisa Casey from Office Depot said:

Definitely would recommend to take the assignment with the children. I did it. My husband and our two children, ages 5 and 7 at that time, accompanied me on my assignment to Hong Kong. The exposure to culture, food, travel, and people added another dimension to their growth. We have since traveled back to the Asia region several times after the assignment was over and we still talk about it…

Susan Lomartire from HeartSilks said:

Absolutely — unless, of course, the assignment is in a high-risk area. It is my experience working with expats that all family members benefit in many ways from the exposure to other countries and cultures. It’s a fantastic educational experience — both in school and outside of it.

Jan Kasper from Russell Real Estate Service said:

We have done the international relocation and with a family. Our son was in high school when we moved to Australia. It was a great experience and we all still talk about it as a fantastic growing experience! There are always ups and downs but you will regret not taking the challenge!

Ron Scruggs from SCI Procurement said:

My wife and 4 sons joined me on a transfer to Geneva Switzerland. My 3 year assignment was extended to 10 years. The family is all bi-lingual now (though not at the start of the assignment). This was a tremendous experience for all of us. The quality of life proved to be excellent, the experience was worthwhile. Though not for everyone as a rule, this was a positive life changing experience for all of our family.

Rebecca Grappo from RNG International Educational Consultants said:

I think there are many factors that contribute to children’s success in overseas assignments. It seems to me that the kids that are able to easily make social connections, are successful learning in a mainstream, traditional setting that one finds in most international schools, have supportive parents, and a well-developed sense of self are the ones that do really well.

In contrast, the kids that struggle to make social connections, or struggle in school and don’t have their learning needs met, or who wrestle with core identity issues, are the kids who seem to not do well. I have worked with many very bright, gifted kids who could not easily relate to peers – and thus hate moving and starting over.

Rebecca Sullivan from Adare International said:

I’m over a year into an overseas relocation with my family – husband and 2 young boys (now 3 & 5). While this kind of move presents many challenges – not least a language barrier to some degree – the benefits are evident for my children. In fact the children have gained the most out of the country change. Naturally the country you move to plays a major part in the benefit stakes so homework needs to be done in advance.

Danielle Lammie from Oakwood Worldwide said:

I relocated to Europe throughout high school with my family to Luxembourg. It was life changing. We became closer as a family. I attended American International School of Luxembourg now (ISL) – this was an amazing school, with fabulous professors. I would never take that kind of experience back. I see how the world is global not just local.

Patricia D. Rivera from 123 Accounting LLC said:

There are many different aspects to international assignments one critical is where is the assignment? Children are extremely resilient. However parents need to set the stage. If the parents are excited and look upon this move as an adventure and a way to expand the children will very nicely adjust as well.

Christina Buchanan at Audubon Engineering Operations, LLC said:

In my experience, children thrive during an international assignment. Of course, not all places are children-friendly (or for that matter, people-friendly…) but in most locations children adapt quickly and will look back to it as a turning point in their lives. In a continuously changing world, let your children get “a leg up” on the competition!

From a lot of the conversation that was generated on this topic it seems that families that take International Assignments have been very pleased with the experience for their whole family. In addition, a few comments reminded that there would be challenges to every relocation but yet even in light of these challenges the comments almost all said “go for it!” in one way or another. What has been your experience? What advice would you give to a family thinking about a big international relocation?

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