HBR Working Moms Collection (6 Books)

9

Making Your Expat Assignment Easier on Your Family

by Katia Vlachos

Quick Takes

• Recognize that relocating to a new country is a multistage process
• Frame the opportunity as a real choice
• Consider the implications on your careers, kids, extended family, and support networks
• Be open to trade-offs on timing, housing, and schooling
• Put your family first after the move

As companies expand globally, executives are increasingly being tapped for expatriate assignments. The idea is to spread talent, expertise, and knowledge from headquarters to foreign offices, and vice versa. But these are costly moves—$311,000 per year, according to a report by PwC and the Cranfield School of Management—and many fail to generate a return on investment.¹ Studies ...