Should the Whole Family Move to a Temporary Work Location?

For many workers who take on temporary relocation, the biggest decision is whether or not to bring the family along. There is no right or wrong answer to this question; each family situation has a unique solution. 

To help you make the right call for your little clan, consider these five key factors.

Are you the only one in the family with a regular job to report to? If so, moving a spouse or small children to a temporary location could be relatively easy. But if your spouse or older children have jobs of their own, a temporary relocation could do more harm than good. No one wants to derail a spouse's career track over a temporary move. 

Similarly, obligations to sports teams, volunteer activities, associations, or older family members add to the challenge. Some obligations might simply be postponed or put on hold, but others — like family caregiving — may not be something you can easily overcome. 

Can the temporary housing fulfill your needs as a family? Can you take the family pets with you? Does the home have safe play areas? Does it provide useful amenities like an on-site gym, swimming pool, or quality cooking facilities? Will the home have enough bedrooms and space to avoid unnecessary family conflict? Is the neighborhood conducive to eating out, evening entertainment, weekend play, or outdoor activities? 

Make a list of what your family members all want and need. Before deciding on the move, check out the housing options compared to this list.

How long, really, do you expect to be gone? Very short-term assignments — perhaps only a few weeks or a couple of months — may not warrant a large upheaval in the family's life. With modern technology, families and friends can stay in near-constant communication if they wish, which makes separation for a short term a more viable option. 

Is there any possibility, though, that this temporary assignment will turn into a longer or permanent one? If you're sent to open a new office, for instance, might you stay on as manager? In this case, moving everyone might be a wise investment in the future. The family makes the move once and can determine together if this is a good situation for the longer term. 

For parents, the biggest factor for temporary relocation is how their kids will adjust. Smaller children, of course, often have the easiest time. But those who are of school age or have close friendships with those in their area may have a hard time adjusting. Certain times of year, such as the summer vacation months, might be a good time to keep the family together without interrupting children's schedules. 

Don't overlook the costs of going home to visit on a regular basis. Many temporary workers try to go home on weekends, but this cost really adds up. Can you negotiate with your employer to help pay? If not, how often can your budget absorb additional travel costs along with higher living expenses? Keeping everyone together may be the more economical choice and lead to less anxiety over visits. 

If you consider this temporary move from these five angles, you're sure to make the right decision as a family. Not sure where to start? Check out the temporary accommodations available with Corporate Relocation, Inc today. Our beautiful housing options will help you determine how best to approach your new career opportunity for the benefit of all.