This article is taken from the 2021 Relocate and Think Global People Awards supplement.Click on the cover to access the digital edition or on the links below to read all of the articles on our website.

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The success or failure of an international move depends on how well globally mobile employees and their families settle. Service providers and employers who “think global people” recognise this requires support from the very beginning of the assignment life cycle, as well as throughout.The pandemic threw this maxim and employee wellbeing into the spotlight like never before. The winner of this award stepped up immediately in response to offer all globally mobile families ready access to advice and support. Further, it offered global mobility and talent leaders a quick, fee-free lifeline to support their mobile populations at a unique moment of uncertainty.

Connecting people at a time of crisis

NetExpat is a global provider of assessment, training and coaching for mobile employees and their relocating partners with a local presence in 85 countries. NetExpat’s Community is a valuable aspect of the organisation’s offer. This online support network connects assignees, their partners and families in their locations and is complemented by local in-person meet-ups.Before the coronavirus outbreak, NetExpat was providing employers’ globally mobile employees with access to this ready-made community to help their transitions. Yet as the world went into heavy lockdown, and just two days after the first internal discussion, NetExpat moved quickly to offer all international relocating partners/spouses, including those who were not existing clients, access to its community, supportive virtual socials, content and webinars, and a safe space to ask questions.NetExpat’s rapid response was also a significant boon to mobility and talent leaders at a time when many were in crisis mode and concerned how they could best connect with and support their assignee populations.NetExpat designed a simple way for mobility teams to share its initiative with their globally mobile employees, providing a registration link and unique referral code for each organisation.

Wellbeing in focus

During this time, NetExpat also developed the #MovingForward initiative. With the accent on wellbeing, this connected members to tools, weekly videos from featured NetExpat consultants and concrete advice around how to handle the impact of Covid-19 as it relates to social, professional and mental wellbeing.NetExpat is extending this for 2021 with the introduction of its Buddy Program. This will match individuals with other members of the Community to offer a virtual helping hand during the complex transition of an international relocation.Commenting, the judges said, “the development and launch of the spouse/partner assistance service to support assignees on the move during the pandemic is to be commended. It was clearly a very necessary service and one that was up and running very fast. A strong entry from a business that clearly stepped up to the mark during the global crisis.”Accepting the award, Des McKell, VP Global Advisory Services, UK and Ireland, said, “Thank you on behalf of everyone at NetExpat around the world. I’m delighted to accept this Relocate Award. I’d like to thank the judging panel for their review and recognition of our submission and certainly to wish everyone in our industry all the best for the remainder of 2021.”www.netexpat.com

The 2021 Relocate and Think Global People Awards Supplement - Out Now

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