Working abroad – Challenges of expats and how companies can support their new employees

The term “itchy feet” has been coined to describe the impulse to travel the world and seek “somewhere greener”. Although the cliché may seem frivolous, it certainly points to the intrinsic curiosity which entices many of us to work, live and eventually settle abroad.

And whilst taking a holiday overseas can be a thrilling experience, actually living in a new country can become more challenging. Think about it. You must find a new place to call your home, make new friends, understand cultural differences and maybe even cope with homesickness. All in all, it’s a bit like turning your life upside-down and learning to adapt to a whole new way of being.

In terms of work, you are likely to be confronted with a different workplace culture and new expectations. And whilst the new company may be similar to where you worked back home, organisational structures are likely to be completely different.

With all this said, there’s little wonder why expats experience a whirlwind of emotions such as anger, frustration, fear or a feeling of powerlessness. When living overseas, it may be harder to recognise and manage these emotions in healthy ways. For example, you may not be able to express your feelings to the friends and family you would usually talk to. Moreover, effectively communicating with people of a new culture can be challenging and result in intercultural misunderstanding.

So, how can workplaces better support their new employees from overseas? How can businesses reduce the likelihood of expat “burnout” and the risk of losing their new team members? How can workplaces make expat’s experience a nurturing one, which helps them to develop personally and professionally?

What Support is Needed?

A study conducted at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences has demonstrated the importance of emotional support and mental health services for expats.

Throughout this study, expats undertook extensive interviews where they were asked what their workplaces were doing to support their mental wellness, as well as what more could be done.

Essentially, the results showed that expats would value support at all stages of their stay abroad. In their opinion, topics like "dealing with negative emotions" should be included as part of cross-cultural training offered by companies and relocation services.

Without exception, all expats emphasised the importance of exchanging with other expats —"a problem shared is a problem halved”. They reported that having a mentor who has lived a similar experience would be a wonderful source of psychological knowledge and support.

What Companies Can Do

Clearly, workplaces need to provide expats with cultural information in order to prepare them for the new way of life. This may include sensitivity training, language training, environmental briefing, and so on.

However, support needs to go beyond this essential information. More workplaces should offer training to help expats learn emotionally intelligent ways to navigate the challenges at hand, such as through mindfulness training.

When helped in this way, expats will not only feel supported, but they will also be enabled to share their emotional intelligent skillset with others.

Overall, the decision to live as an expat, or hire talent from overseas, often means making compromises for both employees and companies. So, let’s support each other and make the very best of this intercultural adventure.

What's your experience as an expat and your best advice to those seeking “somewhere greener” in a new country? Happy to hear your thoughts.