Globally Secure

Preparation is power.

These three simple words are the backbone of expatriate security in today’s world. For any employee being reassigned in a foreign country, their security measures need to begin prior to the relocation with cultural training and preparation in case of an emergency in their new home.

Planning correctly prior to leaving can assist the transferee in minimizing problems and difficulties that may arise. The company, its expatriate employees, and their families should learn as much as possible about the foreign country, its culture, and living abroad. Proper preparation can reduce stress and invoke confidence in both the company and its expatriates.

Sources for information on a transferee’s new country can be found in a variety of places, including the Internet, libraries, and bookstores that sell travel publications and magazines. Also, some relocation companies offer their customers guides or settling-in tips and cultural training to help them feel more secure about their upcoming move.

This research can be crucial to the success of a transfer into a new country. An enthusiastic and productive employee who has adjusted, along with his family, to the new surroundings, in this case, defines success.

Achieving that success is the main ingredient in feeling secure, and the drive for that feeling not only falls on the expatriate’s shoulders, but also lies in the company’s hands. Any company who is relocating its employees should have a thorough understanding of a country's history and current conditions, including laws, customs, political trends, economics, and medical services.

Expat Expert Robin Pascoe goes one step further, explaining how many companies understand the importance of empowering their employees during a relocation process, but they need to go one step further if they are going to send confident, functioning employees and their families abroad.

“As current world events hammer away at people’s nerves before they can even adjust to them, many expats are living in a constant state of acute stress over issues of security,” says Pascoe. “It’s enough to give anyone contemplating an international assignment pause.”

The solution is knowledge and preparation. Planning for emergencies is of the utmost importance, thus providing a manageable stress level. In a world where something is perfectly acceptable in one country and completely offensive in another, companies and their relocating employees must be fully prepared for the cross-cultural differences.

Security, of course, does not end once you arrive at your destination. A transferee must always remember to be security conscious and take necessary precautions whenever abroad. The list of those precautions include:

• Understanding and adapting to behavioral customs of the new country
• Paying close attention to any unattended bags in public
• Avoiding any demonstrations of a political nature
• Avoiding unlit streets at night
• Adjusting style of dress to blend in as much as possible
• Carrying only the amount of money you will need for that day
• Not flaunting your wealth
• Divulging any personal information over the phone to an unknown caller
• Knowing your new area, including local and regional politics so as to not unintentionally say the wrong thing

For instance, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns all travelers going to Poland that there is no recent history of terrorism in Poland, but Poland shares with the rest of the world a risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks. You should therefore be vigilant in public places, including tourist sites and anywhere foreigners may gather.

“Most of the hints and tips are common sense,” explains David Muir, CEO of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Crown Worldwide Group. “Arranging for your visa in advance and making sure your bags are clearly marked so no one can walk off with your belongings are just a couple of important things to remember. The best advice is to always be aware of your surroundings.”

As a general rule, the better prepared a company can make its employees prior to transferring, the more comfortable that employee will be. For the company’s part, doing a complete assessment of the relocation, including security issues and measures that need to be taken, can make the move more attractive and keep the transferee at ease.

Also, a company must always keep the concerns of the expat’s family in mind when working out a relocation plan. It is key to provide early counseling and cultural training to maintain a high comfort level and to make for a smoother transition to their new home.

Education. Knowledge. Awareness. Preparation. All four of these terms can be the best friend of someone relocating to a foreign country. Being educated on the customs and necessary security measures, knowing the steps to take in order to remain secure and being aware of your surroundings to ensure security are all equally important to a safe and productive situation.

And an empowered employee.

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