HOT TOPIC


Best assignment destinations So where is the best place for an expat assignment? A wide range of surveys is published each year, and the answers can differ greatly, mainly as a result of criteria used to compile the lists. One of the most comprehensive surveys


is conducted annually by Mercer, one of the world’s largest human resources consulting firms. It is aimed at enabling multinational companies and other organisations to have an accurate guide to compensating employees fairly when placing them on international assignments. The firm’s latest Quality of Living


survey, published in March, provides hardship premium recommendations for 231 cities. This year, for the first time, it includes separate city infrastructure rankings, because this “plays an important role when multinationals decide where to establish locations abroad and send expatriate workers”. “The success of foreign assignments is


inf luenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services,” says Slagin Parakatil, principal at Mercer responsible for its quality-of- living research. “Multinational companies need accurate and timely information to help calculate fair and consistent expatriate compensation – a real challenge in locations with a compromised quality of living.” In the Mercer rankings, Vienna occupies first place for


overall quality of living for the eighth year running, with the rest of the top ten list mostly filled by European cities: Zurich in second place, followed by Munich, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Copenhagen and newcomer Basel. The only non-European cities in the top ten are Auckland, in


third place, and Vancouver, in fifth. The highest-ranking cities in Asia and Latin America are Singapore (25) and Montevideo (79). In the city infrastructure rankings – which include assessments


of supplies of electricity and drinking water, telephone and mail services, and public transport, including traffic congestion and availability of international f lights – Singapore comes out top, followed by Frankfurt and Munich, both in second place. In 230th place is Baghdad, only beaten to bottom place by


Port au Prince. “Economic instability, social unrest and growing political upheaval


all add to the complex challenge multinational companies face when analysing quality of living for their expatriate workforce,” says Ilya Bonic, senior partner and president of Mercer’s career business. “For multinationals and governments, it is vital to have quality-of-living information that is accurate, detailed and reliable. It not only enables these employers to compensate employees appropriately, but also provides a planning benchmark and insights into the often-sensitive operational environment that surrounds their workforce. “In uncertain times, organisations that plan to establish


themselves and send staff to a new location should ensure they get a complete picture of the city, including its viability as a business location and its attractiveness to key talent.”


The expatriate view HSBC’s most recent Expat Explorer survey garnered responses from more than 26,000 expatriates across the globe. “According to our survey, Europe is home to some of the best destinations for a successful expat career,” says Dean Blackburn, head of HSBC Expat. “Six European countries have made their way into the top ten and are recognised for their strong work culture, great work-life balance, and relatively good job security. “Working abroad is an exciting prospect which can bring


plenty of opportunities, but choosing a destination that’s right for you isn’t always easy. From earnings to work-life balance, career progression to job security, there are lots of criteria you should consider when it comes to deciding on your next move.” Switzerland retained top spot in the HSBC rankings of the


best places for a successful career. It was joined in the top ten by, in order, Germany, Sweden, the UAE, Norway, Singapore, Austria, Hong Kong, the UK and Bahrain. “Switzerland is ranked as the best all-round destination


for a career abroad, combining the highest earning prospects with a good work-life balance and an excellent work culture,” said HSBC. “The average annual expat income in Switzerland is $188,275, almost twice the global average of $97,419. More than two-thirds of expats in Switzerland see an improvement in their work-life balance, and a similar proportion say the work culture is better than at home.” There again, the 2016 InterNations’ Working Abroad Index


placed Luxembourg at the top of the pile, with Taiwan in an unexpected second place and Germany in third. Meanwhile, Colliers International’s Cities of Influence report,


published in February and based on very different criteria from HSBC’s, maintains that London remains, and will continue to remain, “one of the most inf luential cities for talent, location and costs, despite predictions that companies would lose faith


8 | Re:locate | Spring 2017


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