COVID‐19 has significantly impacted expatriates, affecting their ability to work effectively and their personal and family lives. This study explores their experiences in different phases of the pandemic, and their perspectives on the future of international living in light of such global disruption. Involving over 600 expatriates in 48 countries, the research shows shifts in motivation and priorities as a result of the crisis and reveals how family (extended and immediate) topped expatriates' concerns. The study examines if and how support systems worked and looks at coping mechanisms, skills, traits, previous experience, and attitudes which participants found useful. A common theme was “falling between two stools”—where expatriates were ineligible for support in either their home country or in their host country. Others described being “pulled in different directions” or “torn by a dilemma” with pros and cons in either choice. The study contributes to the questions about the future of global work with results of the survey revealing changing norms for expatriation and global mobility raising the possibility of more nuanced approaches to global projects and less binary options for global professionals and their families.
The globally mobile workforce of international professionals has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Closed borders and entry restrictions for foreign residents have left many expatriates separated from partners and family members. Previously held assumptions about the ability to travel whenever needed have been severely challenged, thus leaving some questioning the attractiveness of living and working abroad. The expectations of mobility that individuals as well as organizations used to have are changed. The research aimed to assess the impact of factors like travel and other restrictions on the priorities of expatriates and on their willingness to consider future mobility, as well as how the disruption affected expatriates' concept of family. The research shows that organizations will have to examine if expatriation is a sustainable strategy. Both expatriates and organizations are more than ever subjected to local government regulations concerning the acceptance and conditions of life and travel for expatriates.
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