Questions You Should Be Asking Before Relocating for a Job

If you’re thinking about relocating for a job, planning and preparation can reduce much of the stress that naturally comes with moving. What questions should you ask before making a move?

How Will Relocation Affect My Family?

If you have young children, ill family members, or aging parents, the location of a new job matters. Climate, culture and distance can affect the well-being of your family. Check the new location for the availability and quality of services or facilities your family will need, including:

• Day care centers

• Healthcare facilities

• Recreation options

• Schools

• Senior care services

Is the Company Financially Stable?

Before you apply for a job, check the financial stability of the company. Some of the questions you should ask include:

• How long has the company been in business?

• Have there been any recent layoffs?

• If the company has recently been part of a merger or acquisition, what was the reason?

• What do online reports show about the company’s financial status?

What's the Cost of Living in the New City?

Will family expenses be more affordable or more expensive if you move? Consider all aspects of the cost of living compared with your potential pay rate, and decide if the move is right for you. Remember to consider the following costs in your review:

• Groceries

• Health care

• Housing

• Insurance

• Taxes

• Transportation

• Utilities

How Will the Pay Affect Your Quality of Life?

Research the pay range for careers similar to yours. At times, a job with lower pay can have a positive effect on your quality of life. Perhaps the new job will allow you to spend more time with your family or on personal interests. On the other hand, higher pay might make it easier to provide for your family and care for necessary expenses.

Will the Company Pay Relocation Expenses?

Moving can be expensive. Before you relocate, find out if the company offers relocation assistance. Out-of-pocket costs can influence when and where to move. Make sure you know everything a relocation package offers, including:

• Full packing at your current location

• Full unpacking at your new location

• Housing assistance

• Storage

• Transferring your cars to the new location

How Will Job Relocation Affect Your Career?

Is relocating for a job a wise move for your career? Will you be given opportunities that challenge your skills or help you acquire new ones? Carefully consider how a new job will help or hurt your career goals.

Interested in Job Relocation?

Relocating for a new job can be exciting and rewarding. WSi can accelerate the process. Apply today. Our recruiting team will help you find opportunities that match your location preferences and career goals.

Why You Should Invest in an Employee Wellness Program

Does your business have an employee wellness program? Seventy-five percent of healthcare spending is related to chronic disease. Many chronic diseases can be delayed, alleviated, or prevented with lifestyle changes. An effective program can help you retain healthy, productive employees. Consider the facts.

The Cost of Chronic Illness

Chronic illness among U.S. workers costs employers more than $200 billion each year. It manifests itself in the workplace in different ways, including:

• Absenteeism

• Decreased productivity

• Increased healthcare costs

• Injury

• Tardiness

What’s Making Your Employees Sick?

According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce report, Winning with Wellness, obesity, and depression are the top two chronic conditions that escalate healthcare costs for employers. And anxiety disorders closely follow. The figures below show why employers should be concerned and proactive about implementing an employee wellness program.

• 68.8 percent of adults are overweight or obese.

• 6.7 percent of the U.S. population experiences depression that lasts at least two years.

• 18 percent of the population is affected by anxiety disorders—the most common mental disorder in the U.S.

How an Employee Wellness Program Can Help

The program encourages physical activity, a healthy diet, and healthy lifestyle choices. If your employees stick with it, they can improve their well-being in many ways. Both you and your employees will benefit. Here’s how:

Employees

• Decreased levels of stress

• Improved physical fitness

• Increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and well-being

• Increased stamina

• Weight loss

Employers

• Reduce absenteeism

• Increase productivity

• Improve recruitment/retention

• Reduce healthcare costs

Where Do You Start?

If you want to implement an employee wellness program, but don’t know where to start, there are plenty of resources for ideas and guidance. Visit the websites of the organizations listed below to learn the dos and don’ts for developing a program that’s tailored for your business.

• Center for Disease Control

• Department of Labor

• Society for Human Resource Management

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Attracting the Right Talent

Although an employee wellness program can help your business attract and retain top talent, there is no substitute for effective recruitment processes. At WSi, we’ve provided staffing services since 1988. Each year, more than 1,200 employers trust us to find the right professionals to help their businesses thrive. Contact us today, or visit our website to learn more about our staffing solutions.