The Expat Family
This article in the New York Times brings attention to the experience of the international assignee’s family, which is usually fraught with problems. Companies take measures to address the difficulties of adjusting to foreign cultures, but why are these actions oftentimes insufficient or overlooked? This story has changed little in the past several decades. Organizations are simply not comfortable dealing with partners of employees, which is why they grant cash allowances in lieu of more critical pre-departure assessment and training. Online facilities for this accommodate the needs of expatriate families while retaining corporate distance from their employees’ personal lives. These tools, utilized on the internet, assess one’s adaptability to foreign cultures while increasing cultural awareness, which are activities frequently neglected, yet essential to success on a global assignment.
Assuring the partner is prepared and able to cope with the enormous challenge of living in a foreign culture is critical to the expatriating organization and the assignee. Research has validated that international experience is a vital component of a business manager’s resume. With careful consideration of global HR managers, the return on vast corporate investment will be staggering.
