Posted on Monday, September 08 2025
Employee relocation can come with a whole host of uncertainties: Will the transition be successful for the employee and their family? Will the relocation be permanent, or will it be temporary? Will the business needs of the organization change in the next year or two, thereby changing the need for the relocation in the first place? What are the cost implications of a permanent move vs a temporary one?Even in the best of economies, these uncertainties can be difficult to address; in times of economic uncertainty, they become even more challenging.
Corporate housing can help bridge the gap
Experts agree that a big relocation, especially for employees with spouses and children, can be stressful. So stressful, in fact, that as many as 70% of failed relocations are attributable to family conflict.
One of the biggest challenges that relocating families face is the perceived permanency: They sell or give up their home and are parachuted into a city they don’t know, into a neighbourhood without connections or a support system.
Corporate housing can be a good temporary landing place:
Relocated families don’t have to give up their existing home
Many organizations will buy or lease a property for their relocating employees, but only if they permanently give up their existing home. This can be destabilizing for the whole family – especially for kids who may feel panicked at the thought that they can ‘never go home again’. Choosing a corporate housing option, which provides a home-like atmosphere, can help them get their feet wet in the new location without feeling like they’ve given up everything familiar.
It allows for a familiarization period
As real estate agents say, ‘location, location, location’. Relocating employees can’t be expected to choose the right neighbourhood for their family until they’ve had time to get to know their new city. Living in corporate housing for a few weeks or months gives them time to get the lay of the land and then choose a neighbourhood that best fits their needs.
Corporate housing is flexible and scalable
When you choose a corporate housing provider with a wide variety of suites, homes and townhomes, your relocating employees have options: They can extend their stay, try different locations or different housing types – even discover which amenities are most important to them. Knowing they’re not ‘locked in’ to a single solution can make a huge difference to their stress levels – and can keep a relocation on track for the long term.
How Premiere Suites can help
As the largest provider of corporate housing in Canada, we’ve worked with thousands of organizations around the world, providing accommodation for employees who are traveling for work or relocating for a few weeks or months. With more than 1500 furnished suites, homes and townhomes across Canada, plus a network of more than 10,000 more furnished residences, we’ve got accommodations to suit just about everyone!
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