South African Reward Association Conference 2010 The 5th Element
Mitigating Risks to Improve Expatriate Recruitment, Retention & Productivity Presenter: Susan Musich Managing Director Passport Career, LLC
[email protected]
When an organization supports the career interests of an assignee’s spouse, the international assignee will be more likely to accept and stay on an international assignment and will be
more engaged and productive.
AGENDA Introduction Global Trends Challenges for Dual Careers Impact on Organizations What Works: Solutions
International Assignees
BEFORE
NOW
Babyboomers Homogenous societies Spouse, stay-at-home or secondary income, female Western approaches Job security Once an expat always an expat Expat assignments optional
Gen X and Gen Y Multicultural societies Spouse, equal/primary income, more males Multicultural approaches Job insecurity Repatriation
Stable economy
Economic downturn
Expat assignments expected
Demographics are changing. 65% of expats are 20 to 39 years old—Gen Y, Gen X 17% of expats are women 79% of assignees have accompanying spouses
Sources: Cartus-Primacy Global Mobility Policy & Practices Survey 2010; Brookfield Global Mobility Survey, 2010
Cost of sending an expat abroad averages approx. 2-3 times the staff’s base salary with allowances, incentives, adjustments (Source: Expatriate Policy and Practice, A 10-Year Comparison of Trends, 1999)
A single failed expat assignment can cost over US$1 million.
(Source: Berlitz Int’l and HFS Mobility Services)
85% women 15% men 93% married 7% unmarried partners 36% of spouses with bachelor’s 46% of spouses with master’s or Ph.D. 79% speak 2+ languages 80% of the under 35’s say employment is important Permit Foundation Dual Career Survey, 2009
Almost 50% of spouses were employed prior to expatriation.
Only 9% were employed on assignment.
(Sources: Brookfield Global Mobility Survey 2010; Permits Foundation Survey, 2009)
84% of spouses would like to work.
Only 31% of companies offer spouse career assistance
Only 8% provide support beyond the first 3 months
40% of companies see the loss of spouse income as a barrier to mobility…
(Sources: Brookfield Global Mobility Survey, 2010; RES Forum, 2010)
10 years ago
Today
