Protect Your International Assignment ROI: Family Support Programs
The success of an international assignment is inextricably linked to the stability of the family unit. When a partner struggles to adjust or a child’s wellbeing is compromised, the risk of early repatriation increases significantly. Industry research indicates that partner dissatisfaction remains a leading cause of failed assignments, with the total cost of a single failed relocation potentially reaching up to $1 million.
Expat Valley’s Global Family Support Programs provide a structured, “family-first” layer of care that protects your investment. By addressing the human infrastructure of a move, we ensure that your employees can stay focused on their professional mission, knowing their household is grounded and resilient.
Integration into Your Mobility Policy
Our programs are designed to be flexible, allowing you to choose the level of intervention that best suits your organization’s culture and the specific needs of your talent pool.
- As a Standard Benefit Category
Modernize your mobility policy by adding “Family Support” as a dedicated benefit category alongside traditional items like tax and relocation logistics. This proactive approach increases assignment uptake, as candidates are more likely to accept a move when they see tangible support for their spouse and children. It also normalizes the transition by providing every family with a baseline of expert-led guidance from day one.
- Bespoke Solutions for Policy Design
For organizations looking to lead the industry in human-centric mobility, we offer bespoke family support solutions. We partner with your Global Mobility team to design custom frameworks that align with your specific Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) goals. This ensures your policy supports diverse family units, including dual-career couples and single parents, moving beyond “one-size-fits-all” traditional models.
- As a Targeted Risk-Mitigation Intervention
Challenges often emerge only once the move is underway. Our programs can be introduced mid-assignment to address specific friction points that pose a threat to continuity. This includes crisis prevention when family-related stress begins to impact employee performance, and customized care for families facing unique challenges, such as neurodiversity or complex educational transitions.
A Tiered Approach to Family Stability
We offer five levels of support, allowing you to match the right program to the right assignment profile:
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The Signpost Plan: Foundational orientation and checklists for self-led families.
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The Guidebook Plan: A curated digital roadmap featuring a library of expert-led resources for deeper insight.
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The Navigator Plan: Active alignment through digital tracks and our proprietary Needs & Wellbeing Assessment.
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The Sherpa Plan: High-touch guidance featuring 1-on-1 sessions with a Family Support Consultant.
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The Wayfinder Plan: Bespoke solutions for complex needs, including deep-dive research and specialized interventions.
The Outcome: Resilient Families, Successful Assignments
By providing a dedicated Family Support Program, your organization demonstrates a true commitment to Duty of Care. You aren’t just moving employees; you are cultivating an environment where global families can thrive.
Measurable Benefits:
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Reduced Attrition: Lower the rates of unplanned repatriation by addressing partner and children’s issues, which account for the majority of failed assignments.
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Enhanced Productivity: Minimize the average loss of 69 working hours per relocation spent on family-related settling tasks.
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Data-Driven Strategy: Access our Family Relocation Experience Insights to explore industry research and validate the need for Family Support.
Our Insights report highlights that when families feel supported, the “hidden backpack” of emotional stress is lightened, allowing for increased productivity and employee wellbeing, and improved talent acquisition and retention.
Ready to strengthen your mobility policy?
Schedule a consultation with an Expertise Lead to explore how a Family Support Program can be integrated into your organization’s global strategy.