Reflections on RES Connect: Family-first mobility.
Why We Hosted This Event
People have asked why we put this event together. The simple answer: because we could. Our mission is to improve the lives of international children and global families by seizing every opportunity to drive meaningful change, big or small. When the momentum arose to bring like-minded professionals together to exchange ideas about family relocation experiences, the decision was clear.
Key Insights from the Panel Discussion
The event began with introductions, and it quickly became clear that attendees were seeking inspiration to start or improve family support programs. Our expert panel provided valuable insights:
Community-based support programs work. Both the World Food Programme and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared success stories from their virtual, community-driven initiatives. While their approaches varied in target audience and leadership involvement, both emphasized the power of connection and shared experiences.
Budget remains a challenge. The panel explored the balance between “employee needs” and “business needs,” educating the audience of Shell’s ongoing development of its four-pillared Employee Value Proposition.
Inclusion matters. Simple practices, like inviting partners to assignment briefings, can yield significant benefits by fostering empathy, identifying family needs early, and improving outcomes.
Cultural awareness is essential. Programs like Cognizant’s address the unique needs of multigenerational households in healthcare-dependent systems, offering a valuable example of tailored support.
Key Takeaway:
Cross-organizational collaboration could unlock cost-effective solutions for family support programs.
Highlights from the Expert Workshops
The workshops offered participants a chance to engage with experts in family support, healthcare, partner support, education consulting, and temporary housing. Key themes emerged:
Bridging gaps between assumptions and reality. All experts observed discrepancies between assumed best practices and actual organizational approaches.
A holistic approach to Family Support is a good starting point. Expat Valley emphasized the importance of aligning with higher-level workforce drivers (e.g. DE&I, Talent Acquisition/Retention, or Employee Experience) when implementing or improving a Family Support Program.
Education support is critical. Bennett International Education Consulting highlighted how practices for mid-school year moves and private vs. public education varied significantly, especially for children of locally hired employees.
Partner support has a strong business case. Global Connection debunked myths about partner support being a costly benefit, showcasing its long-term value.
Health screenings are underutilized. AIG highlighted the lack of preventive health measures in most relocation programs, emphasizing the need for proactive approaches.
Including ‘family-friendliness’ in vendor selection criteria drives impact. SilverDoor noted that clients rarely inquire about value offerings for accompanying family members, despite their significant impact on user satisfaction.
Complex family situations are a recurring theme. Participants discussed challenges like deciding on policy exceptions for families with special needs and cultural misunderstandings in local (education) systems.
Key Takeaway:
Adopting expert insights and offerings can improve relocation success and reduce costs.
Actionable Takeaways and Next Steps
Participants and organizations interested in exploring cross-organizational collaboration opportunities can contact Karlijn Jacobs, who is forming a dedicated work group on this topic.
If you are looking to implement or improve your organization’s family relocation program? We invite you to try Expat Valley’s Quickscan – a free tool designed to:
Help you reflect on your current policies and practices.
Align family relocation experiences with workforce management goals.
Identify best practices and cost-effective solutions.
Build a business case for decision-making stakeholders.
Email us to request the Quickscan template or schedule a free workshop today.
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