Short-Term Assignments

Short-Term Assignments

Short-Term Assignments

Short-term assignments are usually used by companies with the need to quickly and easily transfer skills, know-how and resources among various overseas locations.  A short-term assignment is usually a temporary working visit by an employee (“the assignee”) to a foreign location for a 2- to 12-month duration (often limited to 6 months where tax benefits are available pursuant to Double Taxation Agreements).  Such assignments tend to be project-oriented.  The assignee is unaccompanied by his/her spouse or family.

Considerations, assignee perspective:-

  • separation from family,
  • availability or frequency of home trips,
  • accommodation and security at assignment location,
  • availability of living amenities such as medical, entertainment, laundry services, etc.

Considerations, employer perspective;

  • the issue of how to compensate for daily living costs,
  • the issue of how long to keep paying short-term allowance costs, and
  • whether or not to provide a mobility or hardship payment and/or home trips.

Further Considerations:

  • to build an effective short-term assignment compensation and benefits package; and/or
  • to help the assignee (and family) in relocating to, and settling in, at the assignment location?

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