1. 88 Mobility | February 2016
Tips and advice from the many professions and perspectives within the global talent mobility community
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS: TOP 10
Fact-based decisions are critical when making busi-
ness decisions, and lump-sum policy administration
is no exception. Lump-sum policies are rising in
popularity, but they still pose complex challenges to
some relocation managers, employees, and service
providers. Often these stakeholders do not have the
proper facts to make the best choices.
From my experience moving lump-sum transferees
over the past five years and managing two of my
own lump-sum moves, I’ve created a fun acronym,
“NEEDSFACTS,” to help my clients remember all the
aspects of lump-sum relocation, in order to make the
very best choice when designing and administering a
lump-sum policy or move:
1. Numbers: Not every move is the same; the cost to
move a college grad living in an apartment will
be different from that of a married employee with
kids and a home to sell.
2. Educate: Lump-sum is not a traditional pol-
icy and requires a nontraditional approach.
Relocation managers should be educated on the
new processes from the policy; additionally, they
may need to educate themselves on nontradi-
tional solutions that may be more creative and
cost-effective.
3. Explain: You should have a simple way of
explaining the process and expectations to
your transferees.
4. Drawbacks: Cost, flexibility, and ease of manag-
ing the move are the advantages, but what are the
drawbacks? Determine what they are and whether
it’s worth a change in policy. Note: According to the
Worldwide ERC®
2013 U.S. Lump-Sum Policy Survey,
69 percent of employers using a lum-sum policy felt the
advantages outweighed the disadvantages.
5. Safety: If a transferee is left to choose how they
move their household goods, be sure they opt for
a solution that doesn’t jeopardize their safety.
6. Flexibility: Everyone from your transferee to sup-
pliers and move management team will need to
be flexible with their time, cost, and expectations.
7. Accessible: A lump-sum policy can be an easy
handoff to your transferee or service provid-
er(s), but if your transferee needs help, make
yourself accessible.
8. Controlled: If you’re leaving it up to your trans-
feree to manage the move on their own, provide
them with a list of service providers that are safe,
reliable, accountable, and familiar with corporate
relocation.
9. Technology: Technology—from online portals
providing timely and relevant information, to
companies utilizing predictive analytics (PA)
to help determine if your transferee is a good
candidate to relocate—has impacted relocation
in a positive way. Use it to your advantage.
10. Strategy: Tired of dealing with the same old prob-
lems from your traditional program? Introducing
lump-sum policies into your mobility program
might be your chance to make it right! M
Martin Mayotte is a national account executive for
Forward Relocation. He can be reached at +1 919 274 3380
or mmayotte@forwardrelocation.com.
Things to Consider When
Administering a Lump-Sum
Policy
By Martin Mayotte