Expats are always moaning about their plight in a foreign country and feel no one understands them, according to a report from a benefits firm.
Mercer explains that human resources departments deal with a constant flow of complaints from expats – and most are about the same issues.
To back the point up, the report lists the most common expat bellyaches:
- Not all expats are treated the same across the organisation and some have unfair advantages over their colleagues
- Many expats are dissatisfied with their pay and do not accept remuneration packages are based on real data
However, Mercer hits back on behalf of HR personnel and points out that however much cash an organisation spends on international assignments, expat workers never appreciate the effort made on their behalf.
Phones ring off the hook
“Every time compensation is changed, HR staff find their telephones ring continually and their inboxes are stuffed with emails,” said the report.
“This is despite expats and their families failing to take part in programs to help them settle into their new homes, pick schools and personal security.”
The research suggests HR departments can head off a lot of queries by communicating better with expats.
“Setting up a communications strategy to post information about events and announcements is worth the effort,” said the report. “Many expats feel they are in a black hole when living overseas and that no one in the organisation is helping them.
“Although that’s not necessarily true, having a strategy is particularly important in an organisation with a large number of overseas workers.”
The firm also explains sending messages aimed at the expat standpoint rather than the organisation’s helps.
Assignment excuses
This can really help, says the report, when HR staff suspect expats are turning down overseas appointments by making excuses about relocating their families.
“In many cases these excuses mask HR failures to communicate organisation policy for supporting families and expats misunderstanding or not knowing about the support that is available,” says the report.
The firm advises that organisational support for expats should include monitoring managers to make sure they are relaying information about support for their staff and reviewing feedback to ensure information going out to expats delivers the right message.
The result of failing to communicate can cost organisations money when discount deals from suppliers are cut due to lack of take up.
HR departments can also save time with better communications because they are not so tied up handling those repetitive inquiries.
