Expatriates are employees sent by organizations to work in other countries on long- or short-term projects to help establish operations overseas, enter new markets, and transfer skills. Expatriates face cultural shock, loneliness, language barriers, and relationship issues abroad. Human resource management can help through cross-cultural training focusing on awareness, knowledge, and skills to prepare expatriates and their families for living in another culture and ease the adaptation process. It is also important to help employees when they return home through repatriation courses that address reverse culture shock and social and financial adjustments.

1. Expatriation Process
Zineb Sahiaoui
Haroun Hssain
Faycal Benjelloun

2. When & Why?

Expatriates are employees of organizations in one country
who are assigned to work in other countries on long- or
short-term business projects.

Help their companies:
− Establish operations in other countries
− Enter overseas markets or transfer skills and
knowledge to their companies’ business partners.
− Helps organizations develop their management
skills base and their ability to succeed in a global
marketplace.

3. How Do Expatriates Help the
Company?

Parent Control and Particular Expertise

Improve Local Market Knowledge

Instill Company Culture

Transfer knowledge to overseas partners

Increase Local Control

Develop Management Talent

4. Difficulties Faced by
Expatriates

Cultural Shock/Differences

Loneliness

Language Issues

Cost of Living

Healthcare

Relationship Problems

Paperwork

5. Phases of Adaptation

6. What Can Be Done By HRM?

Training Models for Intercultural Training
Programs focusing on
− Awareness
− Knowledge
− Skills

Help the expatriate understand the culture
of new destination and copine strategies

Coaching on business culture, etiquette,
interpersonal communication, conflic
resolution...

Family guidance – schooling, lifestyle...

7. Benefits of Cross Cultural
Training

Prepares the individual/family mentally

Removes the unknown factor that causes stress

Increases self awareness and cultural
understandning

Opportunity for questions

Motivates and Excites

Eases the process

Most importantly, reduces chances of relocation
failure

8. Repatriation Process

Also very important, because there can be
difficulties in returning to the home country

Returnees are experiencing a reverse
culture shock and this time it can be more
severe than when meeting the host country
and culture.

Repatriation Courses
− Financial planning (taxes, insurance)
− School children's education
− Spouse issues (job search...)
− Social changes