“Gooday” For Expat Kids In Australia

Relocating your family to Australia could be an advantage, specially for your children, as the Land Down Under gets the “up” on a survey, and was voted the world’s best country to bring up children by expatriates parents working in Australia.

“Australia had the largest proportion of expat parents who reported an improvement in the quality of family life compared with their original homes, while almost half (45 percent) said moving to the UK could have a negative effect.”

Read more from BusinessDay

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Meet The New Expat English Teacher

Expat English teachers in Japan may have some competition. The Nippon Institute of Technology has developed a robot aimed at helping children learn English. “The shrinking ranks of expat English teachers in Japan face yet another employment challenge in the future in the form of the e-NUVO robot. Developed by the Nippon Institute of Technology, Harada Vehicle Design, ZMP and ZNUG Design, the robot was designed to teach children.”

Check out the robot at Dvice

New Years Resolutions

You may be surprised to know if you are an Expat who cannot keep your New Years Resolution, you are not alone. Recently a university survey found that less than a quarter percent of those surveyed keep their resolutions. “A recent university study found that less than a quarter of the people surveyed had managed to stick to their new year’s resolutions. What caused them to fail? Following the advice of self-help gurus, according to Prof. Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire in England. Wiseman and his team asked 700 people about their strategies for achieving their new year’s goals. Their goals were typical: losing weight, quitting smoking and other self-improvement tasks.”

Read more from CBC News

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while living overseas:

• Compare Expat Insurance and get free quotes online.
• Browse Thousands of Serviced Flats Throughout the World.
• Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments to another country from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies.
• Find answers to all your relocatitng abroad.
• Search the largest selection of International Schools.

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• Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 17,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
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Global Survey: Expat Spouse Employment

The Permits foundation has released a recent study which found that expat spouses have a strong desire to work while overseas. Furthermore, it was found that the ability for an expat spouse to get a work permit is a major factor when employees are looking to move overseas. “The survey also provides insight into partner aspirations and the positive effects of having a job. Almost 90% of partners in the survey were employed before expatriation. This figure fell to 35% during the posting. Three quarters of those who were not working want to work. This is particularly so among the younger age groups, men, graduates and unmarried partners. Most partners who work said that this had a positive impact on adjustment to the host location and willingness to complete the assignment.”

Read more from Permit Foundation

Expats Return to India

Indian expats who are returning to India from overseas are finding the transition more challenge than expected. Recently there have been programs developed to help recruit Indians back to India, including a call from the current PM to welcome all Indians who want to return. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh personally extended an invitation “to all Indian Americans and nonresident Indians who wish to return home.” But, like Ayyadurai, many Indians who spent most of their lives in North America and Europe are finding you can’t go home again. … For many returnees the cultural ties and chance to do good which drew them back are overshadowed by workplace cultures that feel unexpectedly foreign, and can be incredibly frustrating. Sometimes returnees discover that they share more in their attitudes and perspectives with other Americans or with the British than with other Indians. Some stay just a few months, some return to the West after a few years.”

Read more from Times of India

ExpatFinder.com is here for you during your move or while staying abroad:

• Compare Expat Medical Insurance and get free quotes online.
• Browse Thousands of Serviced Flats World Wide.
• Get the best rates when moving money or making regular payments to another country from Expat Foreign Exchange Companies
• Find answers to all your relocatitng overseas.
• Search the largest selection of International Schools abroad.

Read more tips and advice for tools to help you with life abroad and life abroad. Join the Expat Communities!

• Join the Network for Expats on Linkedin.com 17,000 expatriate managers & recruiters
• Expats On Twitter List - Follow, Get followers

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Retaining talented employees remains a priority

A new research report published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that despite the downturn, the war to keep top talent remains a priority for most organisations. The War on Talent? is the first in a two part series looking specifically at talent management in a downturn.

Of the 705 respondents, the majority (74%) have not changed their talent strategy at all. Of the 26% that have revisited and changed their strategy, almost one in five (18%) are actually placing more emphasis on identifying, developing and retaining talent.

The report is available from CIPD

Expatriate Programs Engaging in Savings Initiatives

 
ORC Worldwide’s newest study, “Flash Survey: Cost Savings Initiatives,” asked employers about their plans for reducing costs in the international arena. “There is clearly potential for significant savings by cutting back on nonessential business travel, as 80.6 percent of the respondents are doing,” said Roger Herod, senior vice president of ORC Worldwide.

“Other leading initiatives include localizing long-term expatriates, reducing the number of expatriates and using short-term assignees and commuters, where feasible. However,” Herod warned, “it is important to be selective in implementing any of these ideas to ensure they don’t adversely affect the company’s global strategy and competitive position.”

Read more from talentmgt
For more info ORC Worlwide

Kid’s-Eye View

 
Relocating can mean a better job, better salary and increased responsibility — but for children, it can mean disrupting school, friendships and activities. How can companies help turn those negatives around?
HR should also warn parents that children of different ages will have different issues. Young children may be upset about having their daily routines interrupted. They may also be unsure what exactly will come with them once they move, such as toys and other possessions. Pre-teens and especially teenagers seem to be most worried about leaving behind friends and social networks, or even romantic relationships. And the older they are, the more attached they tend to be to their hometowns.
“Friendships are getting to be especially important and starting to compete with family in terms of importance,” says Copeland, “and you’re pulling kids out of that network, so that can be a real challenge.”

Read more from Jared Shelly HRonline