COVID-19 has been a difficult time for all of us, but imagine being in a new city and navigating this crisis. We reached out to transferees around the world to better understand what has been most challenging for them. We hope this data will help shed light on what is needed for transferees and their families not just now, but in our new world going forward. Please find Pivt’s findings below:

Main Takeaways:

• Only 26.3% of transferee spouses got transition support from their employer or RMC. Why? Employers and RMC’s are spread too thin. They need help with this.
• 63.2% of transferees received a lump sum or self-handled their relocation. Why? Less expensive and more flexible. The problem is that the transferees are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start to make their new city feel like home.
• 57.9% of transferees said they didn’t have a chance to develop a support system before the ‘shelter in place’ orders. Why? Social networking tools aren’t given to employees when they need it the most: pre and post move.
• The biggest challenge in being a new city during COVID-19 was overwhelmingly social well-being (lack of support network and loneliness). Why? It’s friends and a support system transferees need the most when adjusting to a new and unfamiliar place, let alone during a crisis.
• Since the quarantine occurred, only 5.3% of transferees heard from their RMC and 57% from their employers. Why? RMC’s and employers are spread too thin. They need help with social well-being.
• An alarming 73.7% of transferees were not familiar with the healthcare system in their new country prior to COVID-19. Why? The support network to get advice and resources on their new city aren’t given to transferees to help them pre and post move.