GLOBAL MOBILITY Peer-to-peer
empowerment a win-win solution for expats, their partners and employers
Peer-to-peer support is an important tool for professionals who manage a high-performing global workforce. Connecting the dots between peer-to-
peer empowerment and global talent mobility is, therefore, crucial as this type of support is highly beneficial to expats, their partners and employers, writes Theresa Häfner, head of InterNations Business Solutions.
P
eer-to-peer as a concept translates into interactions, exchanges and connections with a network of other individuals in a similar situation or with a similar social or professional background – without the administration
or facilitation of a third party. It enables individuals and helps them to collaborate in an efficient way. It is fast becoming more commonly known and is already used as a powerful means in industries such as healthcare.
PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT ADDRESSES KEY EXPAT ISSUES Challenges that expats face when moving abroad include administrative and organisational tasks, a different work environment, onboarding at work and cultural differences. Furthermore, expats need to establish a new social network and daily routine outside of work, and they need to deal with the practical aspects of living abroad. Those in relationships and with families also need to ensure that their partner and kids are happy. The Expat Insider 2018 Business Edition, a report based
on the InterNations Expat Insider survey of 18,135 expats, identified large-scale needs for personal and social support. Of the foreign assignees and relocating spouses that participated in
the survey and stated unhappiness, not having personal support and socialising opportunities stood out as the top two reasons for their discontentedness. The lack of a personal support network caused 45% of the assignees and 51% of the partners to be unhappy, while not having access to local socialising opportunities caused the unhappiness of 59% of assignees and 47% of partners. Struggling with the practical aspects of living abroad also made 23% of the partners unhappy. Additionally, 61% of foreign assignees missed access to local
networking opportunities, 60% missed socialising and 45% missed intercultural training. Of the relocating spouses, 56% missed receiving additional spouse support, 49% missed information on local life and 68% missed local networking opportunities. These types of expat needs can easily be addressed through
peer-to-peer support, as it primarily entails getting information and personal feedback, as well as having an exchange with people who are or have been in similar situations. It is a key element in receiving practical tips and advice, getting to know new people and building real relationships in order to feel supported and integrated abroad – beyond work. Expats need to rebuild their sense of community when abroad and peer-to-peer support empowers them to do so.
34 | RELOCATE | SUMMER 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
