The impact of relocation or short-term business travels on the spouses' sense of sacrificing

Abstract

International business travels (relocation or frequent travels) demand sacrificing not only from the expatriate but also from his/her escorting spouse. Studies reveal that dissatisfaction amongst the escorting spouse is the third major reason attributing to the failure of international assignments (33%). Our hypothesis claimed that escorting spouses in relocation assignments would sense higher levels of sacrifice, compared to short frequent business travels. Results reveal that spouses sense a feeling of sacrifice, however expatriate spouses, endure a wider-range of difficulties, affecting all spheres of life, due to cultural adaptions, and career loss. Another remarkable finding reveals that expatriates believe their spouses sacrificed more than they did. This unique research, which sampled 70 couples, studied the stance of the escorting spouses and expatriates themselves, in relation to the international assignment. Conclusions may thus assist both expatriates and organisations to handle more effectively the ramifications of the international assignments on the escorting spouse.