INTERNATIONAL REWARD
More choice for expats
Employers are increasingly seeking to tailor expatriate reward packages and flexible benefits to suit differing aspirations, lifestyles and family needs, according to a large-scale survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Today’ s expatriates may not receive the generous benefits of their predecessors, but they are now offered far greater choice and flexibility in the make-up of the overall package.
In a survey of over 270 organisations employing 65,000 expatriates, PwC found that 7% of companies have adopted a flexible benefits approach, but a further 20% are considering this option. The benefits most commonly included in the flexible package are home leave travel and accommodation allowances.
Mari Simpson, the PwC consultant who led the research, said: Companies’ recognition of diversity is prevalent in the continuing trend away from highly-prescriptive, paternalistic policies towards one which is less rigid and flexible.
But few employers are attracted to ad hoc negotiations and one-off deals because of worries about inequalities emerging.
Simpson said: Organisations want to be able to recognise the different and individual needs of employees but at the same time remain squarely within the framework of a policy that treats everyone fairly.
Title: International assignments: European policy and practice 1999/2000 , by Mari Simpson.
Availability: Mari Simpson, PricewaterhouseCoopers, tel: 020 7884 5854.
Want to know more? Jump to the PwC web site . . . www.pwcglobal.com