We have been talking a lot about how focused companies are getting around understanding the mobile employee experience. In a recent webinar, we discussed how companies can leverage experience design to "get into the shoes" of these employees and reconsider what support is being provided, how it is being provided and even when it is being provided. Mobility teams are considering what they can start doing or what they should stop doing to design a better experience. This effort takes us beyond simply providing great customer service at various points along the way and takes into account the entire experience...in those spaces we refer to as the "hallways."
A glaringly obvious point that must be addressed within many expatriate programs is highlighted in this article. The article focuses on a report from Cigna which shows that globally mobile employees are less satisfied than workers who reside in their home country (and who have chosen to bypass overseas assignments). Their anxiety centers around the health concerns they have for themselves and their families. This is a perfect example and exactly what we are talking about when we emphasize the need to breakdown the mobile employee's journey in order to redesign an improved experience. Jason Sadler, president of Cigna's International Markets, explains that, “There is a clear need for employers to pay attention to the health and well-being of their globally mobile employees.”
If attracting, developing and retaining talent is important to your business objectives, then spending time to understand and improve the employee experiences within your global mobility program will be worth its weight in gold for you!