Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/1 Chapter 7 Re-entry and career issues Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/2 Chapter objectives • the process of re-entry or repatriation • job-related issues (cont.) Whereas the preceding chapters concentrated on the management and support of international assignments, this chapter deals with what could be called the post-assignment stage. Re-entry, though, raises issues for both the expatriate and the multinational, some of which may be connected to events that occurred during the international assignment. We treat this stage as part of the international assignment. We examine: Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/3 Chapter objectives (cont.) • social factors, including family factors that affect re-entry and work adjustment • multinational responses to repatriate concerns return on investment (ROI) and knowledge transfer • designing a repatriation programme. Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/4 Re-entry • Expatriation process also includes repatriation: the activity of bringing the expatriate back to the home country • Re-entry presents new challenges – May experience re-entry shock – Some exit the company Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/5 Figure 7-1: Expatriation includes repatriation Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/6 Figure 7-2: The repatriation process Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/7 Repatriation phases • Preparation - developing plans for the future; gathering information about the new position • Physical relocation • Transition • Readjustment - coping with change Use of relocation consultants and removal firms Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/8 Individual reactions: job-related • Career anxiety – No post-assignment guarantee of employment – Loss of visibility and isolation – Changes in the home workplace • Work adjustment – The employment relationship and career expectation – Re-entry position – Devaluing of international experience • Coping with new role demands • Loss of status and pay Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/9 Figure 7-3: The repatriate’s role Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/10 UK repatriate study • Survey of 124 recently repatriated employees • Data analysis indicated five predictors for repatriate maladjustment (in ranked order): – Length of time abroad – Unrealistic expectations – Downward job mobility – Reduced work status – Negative perceptions of employer’s support N. Forster (1994) The Forgotten Employees? The Experience of Expatriate Staff Returning to the UK, International Journal of Human Resource Management, 5 (2): 408 [...]... Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/17 Chapter summary (cont.) • Job-related issues centered on career issues upon re-entry Factors that affected career anxiety were no post-assignment guarantee of employment, fear that the period overseas had caused a loss of visibility, changes in the home workplace that affect re-entry positions and the employment relationship The re-entry position was an... of future career progression and the value placed on international experience Coping with new role demands was another factor in readjustment, along with loss of status and pay (cont.) Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/18 Chapter summary (cont.) • Social factors explored were loss of social standing – the... important decisions are made re positions and promotions • Effective mentoring needs managing Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/16 Chapter summary This chapter has been concerned with the repatriation process We have covered: • The repatriation process One may conclude that in re-entry, the broader sociocultural... Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/20 Chapter summary (cont.) Although the focus of this chapter has been repatriation in the general sense, the issue of career expatriates should be raised The repatriation literature reviewed in preparation for this chapter makes little mention of the process of managing the return of those who have... syndrome – and the accompanying loss of the expatriate lifestyle Family readjustment was also important A specific aspect was the effect of the international assignment upon the spouse/partner’s career, such as being re-employed and having international experience recognized (cont.) Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice... 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/11 Individual reactions: social factors • International experience can distance the repatriate (and family) socially and psychologically (eg Kingpin syndrome) • Each family member undergoing readjustment • Re-establishing social networks can be difficult • Effect on partner’s career Use with International Human Resource Management... Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/19 Chapter summary (cont.) • Multinational responses to repatriates’ concerns focused on reentry procedures We looked at how repatriation affected staff availability, whether companies were measuring and obtaining a return on investment through international assignments and the contribution of repatriates to knowledge transfer • Designing... ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/12 Multinational responses • Staff availability – How repatriation is handled is critical • Return on investment (ROI) – Defining ROI in terms of expatriation – Gains accruing through repatriated staff • Knowledge transfer – A one-way activity? – Tacit and person-bound? Use with International Human Resource Management... adjustment phase, where the foreign culture can be overwhelming Cultural novelty has been found to affect adjustment and, for the majority of repatriates, coming home to the familiar culture may assist in readjustment Indeed, given the more profound effect that job-related factors appear to have, re-entry shock is perhaps a more accurate term to describe the readjustment process experienced upon repatriation... with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/14 Table 7-1: Topics covered by a repatriation program Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/15 The use of mentors • Aims to alleviate the ‘out-of-sight, ‘out-ofmind’ feeling by keeping . Dowling and Denice Welch 7/1 Chapter 7 Re-entry and career issues Use with International Human Resource Management ISBN 1-84480013-X Published by Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice. Thomson Learning © Peter Dowling and Denice Welch 7/18 Chapter summary (cont.) • Job-related issues centered on career issues upon re-entry. Factors that affected career anxiety were no post-assignment. Denice Welch 7/2 Chapter objectives • the process of re-entry or repatriation • job-related issues (cont.) Whereas the preceding chapters concentrated on the management and support of international