“ WHEN ASSIGNEES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR PARTNER, THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SPEND THEIR FREE TIME WORKING; INSTEAD, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO USE THE TIME TO RELAX.”
stress is to be able to talk through one’s experiences and challenges. For example, detailed discussions can help to identify and make sense of cultural misunderstandings. Solo assignees can find
themselves with no one close to them to talk to. This means that they face the difficulty of trying to make sense of new situations by themselves and have no one with whom they can share the ups and downs of their new life abroad. Research has shown that
when assignees undertake solo assignments they frequently work longer hours to fill their time. While employers might think that this
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results in higher productivity, this is unlikely to be the case in the longer term. Instead, where loneliness simply drives a poor work-life balance, it can lead to burnout. When assignees are accompanied by their partner, they are less likely to spend their free time working; instead, they are more likely to use the time to relax. This helps them to unwind, be more emotionally positive, and more productive in the workplace.
SOCIAL SUPPORT Going solo on assignment also means that individuals have limited social support until they are able to develop a friendship group. While organisations do frequently try to address this through the use of “buddy” systems, there is no guarantee that the buddy pairings will have shared interests and that friendships will develop from them. Buddy pairings arranged by
the organisation are likely to be employment-related and, as such, can be extremely helpful in integrating assignees into the workplace. However, such pairings may not necessarily be the best to build hobby interests and develop a wider social circle.
Accompanying partners can
provide a ready-made form of social support through shared hobbies and interests. The partner will also make their own network of friends through employment and other endeavours. This will lead to a widening of social support for the assignee beyond what they can create for themselves through and outside of work. Building strong friendship
groups aids settling-in and improves wellbeing. In turn, this will aid productivity and return on assignment investment.
SKILLS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY Research has shown that the partners of assignees are often highly qualified and skilled in their own right. In essence, highly skilled people tend to partner others of similar capabilities. Dual career couples are typically
keen that both partners continue in their careers and this means that accompanying partners can contribute significant skills to the local host country economy. Accompanying spouses and partners may be able to take up employment in the host country economy. If
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