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Release Date: Wed Apr 26, 2006
 

Benefits help workers on foreign assignments

Firms alleviate impact of international assignments

By BenefitNews Connect - April 26, 2006


 Recognizing that foreign assignments place an extra burden on employees and their families, employers provide a wide range of benefits to make the experience easier, according to professional services firm KPMG, which surveyed 900 businesses.

 
Key findings include:

* The proportion of companies offering language training to assignees and their spouses increased from 34% in 1999 to 42% this year.

* About 48% of companies offer cross-cultural training to assignees, their spouses and children, while 22% offer it to assignees and their spouse, and 1% offer it only to the assignee.

* At least 58% of companies give assignees a relocation allowance, while 31% provide an allowance for furniture and appliances, 28% provide a miscellaneous expense allowance, and 23% provide a settling-in allowance.

* About 83% of companies give assignees money to lease or purchase a car in the host country.

* As an enticement, 44% of companies offer assignees a percentage of their base salary as a bonus, while 19% give assignees a lump sum.

"Jennifer Hurson, KMPG spokeswomen, notes, "Companies are recognizing that cultural differences must be addressed to promote a successful assignment. [Other benefits] increasing in popularity include repatriation counseling at the end of assignment, internal career planning/job placement towards assignment's end and formalized mentoring programs throughout the assignment."