Family-Friendly Relocation:

How Companies Can Effectively Support International Employees and Their Families

As a seasoned pro in the relocation business, Pepper The Fox, RANDOS' company mascot and constant companion to our clients, knows that moving with the whole family presents special challenges for employees relocating to Austria from abroad – and often for the companies that hire them.

In addition to finding a place to live, parents need to find a suitable school or kindergarten for their children, familiarize themselves with the Austrian education system, and organize their family life in a new environment. Increasingly, a cuddly four-legged friend is also brought along. Apart from some hurdles in the housing search, there are various rules and regulations to be considered regarding pets, depending on the country of origin, before departure, upon arrival, and after the move.

A smooth transition is not only in the best interest of the employee themselves but also, in the broader sense, of the employer: Happy families mean less distraction, a quicker adjustment to the workplace, and a lasting relationship with the company for the future employee. A resignation due to lack of support often begins to form in the employee’s mind within the first few weeks.

Our Pepper has often experienced that HR teams are increasingly lacking the time and necessary market knowledge to provide all-embracing support to internationals in these areas. Therefore, Pepper recommends collaborating with an experienced relocation agency to help companies guide their international employees and their families, ensuring the relocation process runs as smoothly as possible.

A relocation consultant always thinks a few steps ahead – a skill that Pepper and the entire RANDOS team, with 27 years of experience in Austria, definitely possess.

Typical Challenges for International Families:

🏡Choosing a Home: Families value a safe environment with good infrastructure – the right location is also important for school placements and educational opportunities for children.

🎓Understanding the School System: The Austrian education system offers a variety of options – from public to private to international schools. Without local expertise, it is very difficult to navigate.

🍼Childcare: Kindergarten places are in high demand, and the search and registration process can be a challenge for families arriving in Austria.

🤝Social Integration: Both children and parents need to find connections in the new environment to truly feel at home.

How Companies Can Effectively Support International Families:

✔ Provide Orientation: The RANDOS team offers a comprehensive orientation session, covering all individual and relevant topics that need to be considered when relocating to Austria. This ensures that the start in the new home happens without complications or administrative penalties and that the transition is positive from the very beginning.

✔ Homefinding and Administrative Processes: We assist with finding housing, taking care of all relevant registrations, insurances, and administrative tasks, so the family can focus on what truly matters.

✔ Kindergarten and School Search: We support the selection and registration of suitable facilities – whether it’s kindergarten, daycare, or school – ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible for both children and parents.

✔ Pet Registration: We provide necessary information on entry requirements and assist with the official registration of pets and any other required steps.

✔ Networking and Integration: Through our network, our networking events (RANDOS Newbie-Brunch), and our experience, we can connect families with other internationals or local communities to help facilitate their social integration.

Pepper’s Conclusion

In the end, it’s about making it possible for the HR teams to focus on their core tasks while the new employee’s family is in good hands. This enables future employees to focus entirely on their new role in the company, without being distracted by personal challenges.

Pepper is convinced: A smoother start for the family also means a
more motivated and focused employee – and this, in turn, positively impacts the entire company culture.

Don’t worry – be relocAIDed…