If your company manages business travelers, you are likely to have a mobility policy to help oversee this employee population. And if you do, you’ve likely had to deal with exceptions because, as we know too well, not everyone fits neatly within the same parameters.

An exception in a corporate relocation policy is any deviation from the standard allowances. Some exceptions are, shall we say, not justified: “No, employee A, unfortunately, we will not pay to ship your exotic, antique cinder block collection.” Other exceptions arise because, well, stuff happens—especially when you’re moving. Weather, natural disasters, port strikes, wars, and global events like the Olympics can all throw a wrench in even the best-laid plans.

Over the last 18 months, we’ve discovered that Temporary Living is the most requested service exception among all mobile employees. Temporary Living and Household Goods have held the top spots for over five years, reflecting the challenges of timing relocation activities, even in the most well-managed programs.

Unlike some other services, the need to extend temporary living is often unexpected, such as a delay in household goods shipment or an inability to access permanent housing due to a closing or other delay. For this reason, we’ve encouraged companies to build in a “pre-approved” extension period of 15-30 days for their administrators to leverage as needed. While not published in policy to encourage transferees to take a more conservative approach in scheduling activities, these “hip-pocket” exceptions alleviate the administrators’ need to seek often cumbersome internal approvals during a stressful “time-is-of-the-essence” juncture of the move.

It’s a common myth in the mobility industry that the ultimate goal is to achieve an exception rate of 0%. However, we like to remind our clients that while meticulous planning is essential, exceptions are an inevitable part of the mobility process. So, even if you’re aiming for zero exceptions, it’s wise to stay flexible and embrace the learning opportunities that come with exception requests. By doing so, you’ll not only save yourself some frustration but also enhance your employees’ mobility experience and gain valuable insights that can improve your mobility program.

Looking for more smart tips for securing and managing temporary housing for your mobile employee population? That’s our specialty! We’d love to chat.

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