Public servants have to relocate many a times in their whole career.
Relocations are, in fact, a way of life for military and other government
services. Knowing this fact doesn't make the
relocation process for service
members and their families any easier. However, the government agencies and
military administration provide many benefits in order to somewhat
compensate the moving stress due to frequent relocations.
Packing and moving companies
too have special packages for government and military employees to match
their budget and for quickly moving them in event of short notices. The
relocation processes for military and government employees are described in
the following paragraphs for general understanding.
Military Relocation
Military families move every two to three years on an average. They do not
have any choice due to their mission requirements and military norms which
dictate periodic changes in their location. The service members don't move
with their families every time which may be sometimes due to family
constraints. At other times, the new assignment is declared as “unaccompanied
tour” by the military administration itself. In such condition, if the
family moves with the service member, the moving cost of the family to the
new location is not paid by military. Sometimes, military personnel have to
undergo
international relocation
also where additional adjustments regarding local customs, norms and
language have also to be done. However, the moving companies tackle this
problem through culture orientation, area orientation and such other
trainings.
Usually the department of defence in almost all the countries help the
military members move efficiently and provide for special entitlements that
defray moving costs. There are certain criteria about relocation
entitlements based on the location of new destination. The military
relocation process involves the following steps:
- Official notice is served about job moving.
- The military office develops a phased relocation schedule
- Once the report date is established, the relocating employee has to
submit a Relocation Services Request form which is required for
eligibility for certain relocation benefits.
- The employee contacts relocation company (either approved by military
or not) who does pre move survey
- The company arranges for packing and moving/ moving based upon
whether door to door
relocation service has been chosen by the employee or not. Many
companies also arrange for such expenditure that can fit in budget
provided by the military.
- The employee files for travel claim.
Military, usually, gives the following benefits, of course, depending
upon the rules and regulations of one's country:
- Transportation costs of moving.
- Assistance for selling or purchasing a home
- Financial assistance for lease termination
- Temporary storage of household goods
- Transportation of mobile home when used as a primary residence
- Miscellaneous expenses allowance
- Relocation income tax allowance
The relocation companies also help military spouses in finding suitable
jobs. Many employers commit themselves to hiring military spouses. There are
many Web sites devoted to assisting military spouses with job placement and
education opportunities.
Government Relocation
There are many moving companies that are approved provider for relocation
and moving services for government agencies and the military. They carry on
the moving process of the government employees in a professional manner
which keep their moral intact. Following services are provided by them:
- Moving of household goods. This can be full-service or self-service
moving and may include other services such services as
vehicle shipping, storage or
warehousing, and pre
move cost estimates
- Additional Services that may include
office relocation.
- Budget moving. If employees have a purchase card limit, these
companies, as far as possible, work to stay within that limit.
- Invoice Auditing. Many of the approved moving companies are invoice
auditor. They help to determine competitive rates of the current
carriers.
These companies also counsel employees on overall policy entitlements
as approved by their departments. They also co-ordinate employee expenses
for reimbursement apart from preparing and administering promissory notes.
Housing assistance is also given by many companies. Their services also
include
insurance based on the employee's
declared value of the shipment. This is a general account of services
provided by the moving companies for government relocation and may differ
from company to company.
Related Article
Making Military Relocation Easy and Comfortable
