In spite of the rapid technological development employees are still considered the main resource for organizations, and hence employee motivation and retention continue to be of great importance at a global scale. However, employees’ work related attitudes and preferences do change over time, which implies that organizations need to tailor their people management strategies to […]
Homesickness: A Natural Part of Being Away from Home?
Globally mobile individuals are the ones who know by experience how it feels to adjust to a new destination, suffer from reverse cultural shock when returning back home, have a restless urge for new relocations, and finally recognize the homesickness when away from home again. The latter, namely homesickness, is not as pronounced a topic […]
‘Working Retirees’ Abroad: Another Facet of Expat Life
Moving abroad after retirement in pursuit of cheaper living expenses, enjoyable climate, and a relaxed lifestyle is nothing new. However, a recent NYTimes article argues that the trend of relocating abroad for work after retirement is gaining appeal. Also echoed by another NYTimes article, it is noted that more American retirees are choosing to take […]
Are the U.S. Losing Their Edge on Recruiting and Retaining Foreign Talent?
Traditionally the United States have been attracting a foreign workforce as a country with a developed economy, near endless opportunities, and English as the predominant working language. However, a recent article in The New York Times argues that today the situation is rather different, with the U.S. losing its edge and facing intense competition in […]
The Eurozone’s Most Glaring Imbalance: Southern European Unemployment vs. German Labor Shortages
Several economic publications and stats suggest that since the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008, the unemployment rates in European countries have only risen. According to Global Research, by today the number of unemployed workers in Spain and France has reached all-time highs. The same disturbing figures are also seen in Greece, Portugal, […]
Gender Diversity in the Workplace: Lessons from Global Top Performers
Gender diversity in the upper ranks of a company is a hot topic in global business, as several studies (e.g. McKinsey, Catalyst) indicate that female representation in executive positions is beneficial for the companies, and that it brings additional commercial value. The practical experiences of companies seem to confirm the notion, as more and more […]
Assignments FROM Developing Locations: Part 2
As promised in my previous post, today I would like to continue with the topic of challenges raised by assignments from developing locations. In my last entry, I discussed issues such as compensation, family concerns and cultural barriers. However, as indicated by the relevant survey from Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) this list of challenges […]
Assignments FROM Developing Locations: Latest Survey Results
Lately a lot is being said and written about the growing trend of sending international assignees to developing and emerging countries. In fact, emerging markets have remained a hot topic in the current year, and mobility specialists and relocation managers continue to point to the many challenges in developing destinations: Security issues, appropriateness of compensation packages, […]
Latin America: Is It Truly Welcoming Foreigners?
For the last three to four years, Latin America has been considered as one of the booming economies. Indeed, hardly any publication on emerging markets and future economic prospects goes by without mentioning the potential of Brazil, Mexico and several other countries. So does a recent article in The Economist, highlighting the changes in Latin […]
‘Englishnization’ of Global Corporations: Strategy is Needed
One of my previous articles touched on the topic of language challenges faced by an internationally mobile workforce and multinational corporations in today’s globalized world. And even though several different solutions for overcoming language barriers are proposed, introducing a single working language is probably the most widely used strategy. Moreover, such unifying business language usually […]
Returning Home after Living Abroad? Not as Easy as Expected!
Undoubtedly, expat life can be very exciting. The experiences and challenges of life abroad develop one as a person, teach new skills and enhance capabilities, create new meanings in life, and generally translate into valuable memories, which are worth remembering for many years ahead. Nowadays, the young generation gets involved with a globally mobile lifestyle […]
Global Workforce Mobility: The Latest Trends
The deployment of a global workforce is no longer merely a trend; it is a prevailing reality for companies of different sizes and in different locations. As the annual survey by Weichert Relocation Resources (WRRI) shows, 92% of companies surveyed perceive workforce mobility as critical and important for achieving their talent management objectives. Naturally, effective […]
Global Mobility: Facing the Ultimate Language Challenges?
The principle of free movement of people within Europe dates back to the creation of the European Union. The policies of the European Community strive to allow for seamlessly easy and efficient movement of people across borders, be it for holidays, studying or work. Indeed, going for a weekend trip to another EU member state […]
International Commuters: Understanding the Benefits and Challenges
In case your employer offers you a job in a foreign country subsidiary, but relocation is undesirable for several personal and family reasons, becoming an international commuter is a possible solution. Indeed, a recent report by ECA International on commuter assignments indicates that this practice is becoming more and more popular. So far, the most […]
Global Workforce Migration Outlook for 2013: Off to Even More Surprising Destinations?
‘UK to Botswana’, ‘Greece to Australia’, ‘Ireland to UAE’, and ‘Portugal to Mozambique’ – the four stories from the latest Guardian article illustrate European migrants fleeing the continuous recession. Indeed, ‘the great escape’ of Europeans from economic crisis, especially to emerging economies around the world, is expected to continue in 2013. While already quite pronounced […]
Flexible Global Mobility: Higher Satisfaction with No Additional Cost?
Increased globalization continuously pushes organizations to expand further into emerging markets, to operate across borders more effectively, and to create better results in more cost-saving, flexible and innovative ways. This explains the spreading popularity of virtual working arrangements (e.g. telecommuters, virtual cross-cultural teams) as well as rapid transformations in HR strategies, such as moving talent […]
