| In a recent study conducted by Crown Relocations, a | | | | Read all about it... |
| number of Relocation Professionals were asked about | | | | Newsletters are common tools that allow worldwide |
| their company's working relationship with staff | | | | staff and organization members to know what is going |
| members on foreign assignment. With over 200 | | | | on with the company or home country. Many |
| responses, when asked "What aspects of working in | | | | Relocation professionals use Newsletters to provide |
| China and India were most difficult for their foreign | | | | Company News (staff changes, new services, etc.), |
| staff," 31% of the respondants cited "a disconnection | | | | Environmental Events (travel warnings, safety tips, etc.), |
| from their head office communication and culture." | | | | Assignment Notices (reminders on benefits, tax filings, |
| Bridging communication with overseas employees may | | | | etc.) and even Social News (weddings, births, |
| seem like a difficult roadblock to overcome. But with a | | | | engagements, retirements, etc.) to their assignees. |
| little creativity, a wealth of tools and information can be | | | | A newsletter takes time and resources to put |
| utilized by both Relocation Professionals and foreign | | | | together and a busy staff may not have a chance to |
| staff members. Here are some tips to help keep the | | | | work on such an initiative. For the busy professional, |
| line of communication open and positive when dealing | | | | one approach to this task is to "Keep is simple." Avoid |
| with overseas assignments: | | | | the fancy format of a traditional Newsletter. Set up an |
| Let's Talk! | | | | Email group to the foreign staff and simply send |
| Many Relocation Professionals appoint a "Home | | | | monthly E-mail announcements. Names like "All About |
| Office Mentor," ideally a senior level manager who is | | | | Acme" or "Corporate Chatter" could be used on each |
| tasked with staying in touch with the expatriate, by | | | | monthly email to give it a sense of formality. Another |
| phone, video conference, SkypeTM or email. They | | | | option to consider is outsourcing the newsletter duties |
| schedule monthly meetings or regular conference calls. | | | | to a communications or relocations provider. |
| By doing so, the mentor keeps the foreign staff in the | | | | These are just a few tips that can help keep the lines |
| loop on recent changes and announcements and | | | | of communication open between a transferee and his |
| provides an opportunity for them to provide feedback | | | | home office. Relocation professionals know that every |
| to the head office. It establishes an ongoing interaction | | | | international assignment is unique and may require |
| that both the staff member and employer can look | | | | individual consideration. But following the tips outlined |
| forward to. It also provides an opportunity to "catch up" | | | | may go a long way in helping foreign staff to stay |
| with each others' lives, both professionally and socially. | | | | connected. |
| Got Media? | | | | Chris Draeger, Group Vice President, Crown |
| In this day and age where multiple forms of | | | | Relocations |
| communication technology are literally at our fingertips, | | | | Crown Relocations has been providing international |
| staying in contact with the home office, family and | | | | moving and relocation services since 1965. With 200 |
| friends is a lot easier than many expats and | | | | offices in 50 countries, Crown has "people on the |
| transferees may believe. With Blackberries, instant | | | | ground" in all the major Expat communities around the |
| messaging, emails, photo-sharing websites and | | | | world. Crown provides a range of services to help |
| intranets, as well as video conferencing and satellite | | | | Expats and their families move and settle into their |
| hook-ups, living thousands of miles away from the rest | | | | new home ranging from Orientation Tours, Home |
| of your team may seem like any other day at the | | | | finding, School Search and more. Crown also |
| office. | | | | organizes Expat Clubs with regular events to help |
| Swati Pathak, Corporate Services & India Specialist at | | | | people meet and socialize with other Expats. |
| Crown, relocated with her family from Bangalore to | | | | We also serve corporate clients as they develop and |
| the U.S. She is currently on assignment in Seattle, | | | | manage the relocation policies and employee benefit |
| Washington. When asked how she stays in touch with | | | | programs for the staff moving overseas. Services |
| her friends and family in Bangalore, she replied, "This is | | | | include expense management, program development, |
| easier than we had thought. Long distance from U.S. to | | | | policy counseling, customized online reporting and full |
| India is not as expensive as it used to be five years | | | | departure and destination services for the employees. |
| ago. We call as often as we feel like. High-speed | | | | Crown is a private organization headquartered in Hong |
| internet service allows us to chat on messengers and | | | | Kong, with European HQ in London and Americas HQ |
| do video as well!" | | | | in Los Angeles California. |