INTERNATIONAL REMUNERATION
Survey of employer practice for international assignments
Many multinationals are offering comprehensive support packages and generous financial incentives to persuade their staff to work abroad. But there are signs of unease about the escalating costs of dispatching workers overseas. These are the main findings to emerge from a new survey by Industrial Relations Services, the employment analysts.
The picture painted by the survey is one of rapid change. Almost two-thirds of the sample report that they have revised their polices or practices on international assignments within the past five years. Moreover, almost half say they are currently planning further changes in this field.
Among the other key findings are:
eight in ten respondents have a formal written policy and/or guidelines covering international assignments
three-quarters are willing to allow employees paid visits home, although these are restricted to a certain number each year.
half of the sample report payment of a hardship premium for some countries.
Survey details
Title: Working all over the world , IRS Employment Review 699, March 2000.
Survey sample: the nine-page report is based on information supplied by 50 named organisations that use international assignments — defined as occasions when employees travel to work outside the UK, excluding occasions where they return home on the same day .
Methodology: postal questionnaire sent to a group of multinational and other employing organisations in January 2000.
Business sectors: firms participating in the survey span a broad range of sectors and employ around half a million people between them.
Availability: available from IRS, tel: 020 7354 6742.
Want to know more? email the editor of IRS Employment Trends david.shepherd@irseclipse.co.uk or jump to the IRS web site . . . www.irseclipse.co.uk