Why Relocation?

A bad Relocation Costs Millions

An international knowledge worker is an expensive, but worthwhile investment. Yet, if an employee moves within the first year it may result in a total cost of millions of Danish kroner equal to several hundred thousand Euros. When Denmark is deselected, the high tax burden or too low salaries are rarely the cause. Far more often it is the problems outside the workplace and the cultural challenges that scare people away.

Therefore, a new type of business has started to bloom – the so-called relocation and retention companies that focus on full service relocation and retention rather than a quick relocation. The name of the leading company within retention of foreign employees is Relocare with offices in Jutland and Sealand and a co-operation partner in the UK.

‘It all begins with what I experienced myself. After working in both Switzerland and France for many years, I took a Master’s Degree from De Montfort University, where I focused on the challenges of relocation and retention of highly educated, international employees,’ Else Christensen says.

She started her company, Relocare, in 2007, which today comprises the companies Relocare Taxation International ApS, covering taxation counselling, as well as Relocare Group ApS, covering global mobility, relocation, culture training, attraction and recruitment.

The challenges are not found only in the workplace

‘When you accidentally have poured yogurt in your coffee too many times, or electricity has been closed down, because you don’t know the Danish system and language, it gets hard to have the energy required to do your job,’ Else Christensen says with a serious smile.

An international, competitive advantage

Danish employees don’t give a surplus until after several months in a company. For international employees it normally takes even longer, and due to the risk of it being money out the window, companies are now investing in relocation services in order to remain competitive and to ensure that the know-how stays in the companies and does not disappear together with the candidate who could not settle down.

‘An unemployed spouse or children who are bored in their new school, weigh heavily in the individual employee’s life. Family is more important than work. That’s the way it is, and the business leaders must give priority to that. Therefore, we assist both in job search for the spouse, cultural courses, and school and recreational activites for the children, in addition to the practical assistance with immigration, tax, insurances, and finding a home etc.,’ Else Christensen says.

It is with good reason that there is now more focus on the cultural challenges of attracting international employees to Denmark. The newest figures from the Labour Market Recruitment show that many international employees have begun to settle in Denmark, rather than to commute. In addition, more and more people arrive from more distant countries.

The unemployment rate in several municipalities – e.g. in Jutland – is below 3% again, as before the financial crisis. Soon it will not be a choice to look beyond the borders for skilled and highly skilled employees, and it is important to have the right tools to avoid that the competitors take over.

For further information – please call:

+45 20 85 17 11 or write info@relocare.dk

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