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International Human Resources Management. Chapter 10, Part 2. Training and Development. Cross-cultural training: increases the relational abilities of future expatriates and their spouses and families
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International HumanResources Management Chapter 10, Part 2
Training and Development • Cross-cultural training: increases the relational abilities of future expatriates and their spouses and families • Training rigor: extent of effort by both trainees and trainers required to prepare the trainees for expatriate positions
Training and Development (cont.) • Low rigor training – used for short-term assignments • Short time period • Lectures and videos on local cultures • Briefings on company operations • High rigor training – for long-term assignments • Longer time period • Experiential learning • Extensive language training • Includes interactions with host country nationals
Expatriate Performance Appraisal: Challenges • Fit of international operation in multinational strategy • Different business environment • Unreliable data • Complex and volatile environments • Time difference and distance separation • Local cultural situation • Home country managers may not understand the local situation
Steps to Improve the Expatriate Performance Appraisal • Fit the evaluation criteria to strategy • Fine-tune the evaluation criteria to the situation • Get evaluations from different people
The Expatriate Manager: Compensation • The balance-sheet approach • Provides a compensation package that gives the expatriate the same standard of living he/she would have at home • Allowances for cost of living, housing, food, recreation, personal care, clothing, education, home furnishing, transportation, and medical care
Exhibit 10.7: Balance Sheet Approach To Expatriate Compensation
Compensation Details • Base salary: the amount of money that an expatriate would receive for doing the same job in the home country • Used as a basis to establish salary in the host country • Salary may be paid in home country currency, host country currency, or a combination of the two
Compensation Details (2) • Benefits: a substantial portion of expatriate compensation • Is the home country or the host country responsible for the expatriate's social security benefits? • Should home-country benefits programs be available to host-country nationals?
Compensation Details (3) • Allowances • Relocation allowance • Cost-of-living allowances are paid when the employee must incur extra costs that he would not pay in the home country • Examples: housing allowance, and the costs of private schools for the employee's children • Hardship allowance: Often paid to employees who work in a country with difficult living conditions • Home-leave allowances: pays the cost of periodic trips home for the employee and family
Compensation Details (4) • Allowances (continued) • Foreign service premium • In the past, a foreign-service premium was often a monthly payment that continued as long as the employee worked overseas • Many firms have eliminated the ongoing foreign-service premium. • Today, a one-time, lump sum foreign service premium is often paid at the start of the overseas assignment to provide cash for immediate expenses.
Compensation Details (5) • Taxes • An expatriate may be required to pay income taxes to both the host country and his/her native country • The company compensates the employee for the extra amount of tax
Compensation Details Summary The cost of an expatriate employee = salary costs + benefit costs + allowance costs (goods and services + housing) + tax costs
Compensation Approaches • The compensation package must be cost-effective and should be seen as fair • Balance-sheet approach: ensure that the expatriate does not lose money from the foreign assignment • Negotiation approach: Negotiate compensation with each employee – may be used with top-level managers • Host-based compensation: Pay the expatriate a salary comparable to local nationals
Compensation Approaches (2) • Lump sum method: give expatriate a pre-determined amount of money. Employee decides how to spend it. • Cafeteria approach: Offer the employee a choice among various compensation options, with a limit on total costs
Compensation Approaches (2) • Regional system: Set up a compensation system for all expatriates who are assigned to a particular region • Global pay systems: worldwide job evaluations, performance appraisal methods, and salary scales are used
Repatriation Problem • Difficulties faced coming back home • Three basic cultural problems—“reverse culture shocks” • Adapt to new work environment and culture of home • Expatriates must relearn own national and organization culture • Need to adapt to basic living environment
Strategies for Successful Repatriation • Provide a mentor at the home office to help the expatriate stay in touch during the overseas assignment. • Provide a home-leave policy to encourage expatriates to make regular visits to the home office • Provide a strategic purpose for the repatriation – the foreign experience should help the expatriate's career • Help the expatriate make good use of the foreign assignment. • Provide information and assistance for relocation. • Provide training and preparation for the return • Provide support for the expatriate and family on return
International Assignments for Women: Two Myths • Myth 1: Women do not wish to take international assignments. • Myth 2: Women will fail in international assignments because of the foreign culture’s prejudices against local women. • Successful women expatriates • Foreign not female—emphasize nationality not gender
International Assignments for Women: Advantages • More visible • Strong in relational skills
International Assignments for Women: Disadvantages • Face the glass ceiling • Isolation and loneliness • Constant proving of themselves, working harder than male • Need to balance work and family responsibilities • Need to worry about accompanying spouse
More Women in the Future? • Women expatriate managers are expected to grow • Acute shortage of high-quality managers • Increasing number of women provide role models
What Can Companies Do To Ensure Female Expatriate Success? • Provide mentors and networking opportunities • Remove sources of barriers – educate other employees about the role of women managers • Provide support to cope with dual-career issues