|
Family Matters! Survey Results
Report on the Findings of the joint ExpatExpert.com and AMJ Campbell International Relocation Survey
(Released September 2008)
The joint ExpatExpert.com and AMJ Campbell International Relocation Survey: “Family Matters!” was designed to provide a snapshot of how internationally mobile families view the support they receive during their relocations. It was also intended to give voice to a constituency normally not heard from in the realm of international assignment management, that is, the accompanying family.
Numerous surveys on global mobility appear each year to report on the state of expatriate assignment management and include key family challenges especially as they impact on the bottom line of business. They report on what organizations are presently doing to support accompanying families; where improvements can and are being made; and finally, they identify areas in which families need assistance in order to make a smooth transition as a successful moveable family during employment abroad.
The majority of industry surveys, however, reflect data collected only from global mobility specialists or international human resource managers of the reporting companies and organizations. In some cases, surveys report just statistics, not the stories which relate the experiences, both good and bad, of the family. For that reason, “Family Matters!” did not focus on the views of managers nor cite only statistics. It is narrative-driven, combining numbers with the first hand experiences of the families actually living and experiencing the international assignment on a day to day basis.
While many families move for adventure or cross-cultural experiences, the majority of the families who responded to “Family Matters!” relocated for career advancement for him/herself or for their partners or parents. The comments, recommendations and anecdotes in this report reflect that. The results (especially the anecdotal) should serve as a blueprint for HR serving multinational companies or international organizations as a narrative ‘Best Practices' from the perspective of family members.
The key findings of “Family Matters!”, as well as the anecdotal data, illustrate that the needs of the mobile family are considerable and that while some are reasonable, some are not. The survey also revealed that there is subtext. That is, family needs are nuanced. As a reason for an assignment failure, for example, it's not enough to simply blame ‘family failure to adjust'. That one comment has multiple meanings.
Key Findings:
- There is a disconnect in communication between headquarters and families about policies and training;
- Marital breakdown was given the highest rating for factors impacting negatively on international assignments;
- Look-see visits should be increased to reduce education and housing stresses which impact on family;
- Financial stresses are impacting negatively on families;
- Accompanying spouse's happiness is key to family closeness after relocation;
- Families want first and foremost, assurances of a contact at the new destination to help family settle in and who the spouse can direct questions;
- Acknowledgment of the contribution of the accompanying family is an important component to a successful relocation
|
