1. How to Support
the Expat Family
to Reduce the
Risk of a Failed
Assignment
Forum for Expatriate
Management
Global Mobility Summit
Orlando Sep. 19, 2014
2. With You Today:
Randip Singh – CEO, US Global Mail
Formerly CFO, Aker Marine Contractors
Managed several Expat Programs
B. Tech (Civil), MBA (International Mgt.)
Randip Singh – Chief Executive Officer
Tashi Nibber – VP Marketing & Business Development
Tashi Nibber – V.P. Marketing, US Global Mail
Lived on 3 continents, speaks four languages
Worked in 2 Fortune 500 companies
MBA (Marketing), M.S. (Computer Info Systems)
3. 90-95% of company efforts
focus on needs of the Expat
Almost 65% of assignment failure can
be attributed to Family Reasons
The Reality in Assignment Failure
Source: Ernst & Young’s 2013 Global Mobility Effectiveness Survey
4. Example 1: Expat relocated to Qatar, son (8)
suffers from serious allergies and needs the
life saving EpiPen. Unavailable in Qatar.
Example 2: Expat in Saudi orders daughter (5)
a Pokémon toy from home. Ships it in the
company pouch. Shipment stuck in customs
for days delaying important docs.
Example 3: Mom is a Clinical
Psychologist, would like to
get her regular journals in
Ghana for professional
development. They’re not
available locally!
Why Work May be the Least of an Expat’s Worries…
5. How can we minimize lifestyle disruption?
Cost effectively?
How Do We Address these Family Crises?
Special needs of the family? Can these be
met successfully?
Low cost options for high Impact results!
Fruit Loops; Charmin; People Magazine, etc.
6. Reducing Failed Assignments – a Proactive Approach
IMPLEMENT
CREATE
COLLABORATE
•Involve Expat Families
•Involve Service Providers
•Industry Benchmarking
•Think Technology
•Global Partnerships with
area companies
•Knowledge networks
•Get out of Status-quo
•Create Cost Efficiencies
•Low Resource, High
Impact Solutions
7. IMPLEMENT
•Simple and Nimble
•Pilot Programs
•Third Party, low cost
Solutions
CREATE
•Buddy families in host location
- establish links before
departure
•Dedicated HR reps in home and
host location
•Internal Social Media platform
for engagement
COLLABORATE
•Mail Forwarding Solutions
•“Franglish”-type programs
for cultural immersion
•Think Shell Outpost –
support system created by
volunteer spouses
Put those Great Ideas in Motion
8. 1. Virtual Mailbox:
Unique online
mailbox for each
Expat employee
2. Expats get mail &
packages at this
address. No company
involvement or liability!
4. Empowerment:
Expats access the
system 24/7 from
anywhere with
internet access
6. Maintain
Lifestyle: Items can
be directed to any
address worldwide.
Keeps family happy!
3. Virtual Online Mailbox: Expats
can “see” their mail online and
control how, where and when to
ship their items
5. Cost Savings: Expats
choose items to be
shipped and pay
themselves
Simple Solutions – Simple Implementation
A solution for connecting family to home
9. 70% employees believe it’s important to
prioritize personal life over career
Reap The Benefits!
72% who received spousal report higher job
satisfaction
77% who do not receive partner benefits said
they would be more engaged at work if they did
73% say partner benefits make them stay on
Data Sources: Ernst & Young’s 2013 Global Mobility Effectiveness Survey;
Spherion’s January 2014 Work Sphere survey; INSEAD Working Papers
