Offering cultural and language assistance will allow your employee to assimilate into the new culture as quickly as possible, providing them with the tools they will need to not only succeed in their new role but thrive in their new environment as well.
International assignments are challenging for all involved: the employee, the spouse, their children, and your company. You can make the transition easier for all by offering these 3 benefits:
1. Cultural Training
Culture shock often occurs when your employees and their families are dropped into a new situation without any knowledge of their new environment. Cultural training isn’t just about learning the host country’s environment and culture, it is also about helping your employee understand their new business culture. Even though your employee may be just transferring offices, the business practices can vary greatly between different countries.
It is also important for you to find and share outside activities that will assist your employees in meeting new people, allowing them to learn the new culture and language in a more social setting. The more they immerse themselves into the culture, the happier they will be in their new position and new lifestyle.
Help and encourage your employees to learn about their new country’s history, common business and social practices, and the local customs. This ensures they truly feel at home in their new location.
2. Language Training
Language training is a benefit that is often overlooked when transferring an employee internationally. Because English is the standard business language, it is just assumed that English is the only language they will need. While this may be true in the sense that they will be able to communicate the essentials at their new office, you also have to consider how they will be able to interact outside of work. Things that were once simple, like going to the grocery store or hosting a dinner party, become daunting.
Language skills are essential to not only help your employees advance in their new positions, but also fully assimilate into their new country. Language training can begin the moment the employee accepts their new position with the use of online tools and/or in person language training sessions, and can continue even after they make the transfer.
3. Spousal and Family Assistance
Spousal and family assistance is another way of ensuring your employees experience success in their new location. The most common reason for failed transfers is family related issues. Often times, the family is forgotten about when it comes to the benefits offered. Spouses and partners leave behind careers and extended family; children leave the schools and friends they’ve come to rely on.
Offering assistance to the families of relocating employees makes the transfer more successful. The employee’s spouse may need help finding a new job or even finding the best stores to shop at. They, too, may need to find social groups to help them engage in their new environment and assistance in learning the new language. Schools are another major consideration when relocating families abroad. Children will need to learn the new culture and language as well, all while acclimating to their new school system.
Spousal and family assistance should include both cultural and language training and should begin as soon as your employee accepts their new role.
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How WHR Group Can Help
WHR has global partnerships with industry experts all over the world, allowing us to deliver cultural and language training services to relocating employees and their families. These experts have been evaluated to design flexible training programs based on a professional assessment of the individual’s and family’s needs, including online and/or face-to-face training preferences. We also track and report on training completion, which is provided to ensure the effectiveness of the program for everyone involved.
Contact WHR Group today for more information on our global mobility services and how to implement your culture and language training program: 800-523-3318 or contactus@whrg.com.