Nearly half of international assignments are ending early, as rising costs and poor preparation leave employers exposed to mounting financial and workforce risks.
New global data shows that 49 percent of overseas placements are cut short due to family concerns, while cultural adjustment and social isolation each account for 47 percent of early returns.
It comes as the average cost of an international assignment has climbed to more than $79,000 per employee per year on top of salary, a rise of over 50 percent since 2017.
Family and culture ‘driving early exits’
The data, from insurer AXA, suggests that practical relocation support is no longer enough to ensure assignments succeed, with personal and social factors now playing a decisive role.
Ellen Hughes, chief people officer at AXA Health Business, part of AXA Global Healthcare, said employers needed to be aware of how they prepare staff for overseas roles. “When we think about mobility strategies, the focus should not only be on business outcomes but on how well we prepare people, and their loved ones, for change,” she said.
Only one in five employees said their family received relocation support, despite a third expecting it in future assignments.
Health provision is also falling short of expectations, with a gap between what is offered and what employees believe they will need when working abroad.
Isolation and mental health risks ’emerge early’
More than half of employees reported that their mental health was challenged within the first three months of an international assignment, pointing to a critical early period where support is most needed.
Social isolation remains a persistent issue, with many workers struggling to build connections in unfamiliar environments. Support networks such as expat groups and mentoring systems are seen as valuable but are not consistently provided or accessed.
Sean Dubberke, chief learning officer at RW3, a professional training firm specialising in intercultural skills, said employees may underestimate the reality of moving abroad.
“Employees can often misunderstand relocation because of simple excitement,” he said. “This adventurous enthusiasm can delay preparation for the practical and psychological realities of living in a new cultural environment,” he said.
Employers and staff ‘out of sync’ on support
A gap between what employers provide and what employees recognise is also contributing to failed assignments.
Employers report offering significantly more support in areas such as language training, cultural preparation and mentoring than employees say they receive. It suggests, experts say, that support systems may exist but are not being communicated clearly or accessed effectively.
The move towards shorter-term placements and digital nomad working is expected to increase pressure on organisations to prepare employees more quickly and effectively. With less time to adapt, issues such as cultural disconnection and family strain may become more pronounced.
The research indicates that organisations will need to place greater emphasis on early preparation, clearer communication and shared responsibility between employer and employee. As costs continue to rise and assignments become more complex, observers say failure is becoming harder to absorb, turning what was once seen as a development opportunity into a growing operational risk.
William Furney is a Managing Editor at Black and White Trading Ltd based in Kingston upon Hull, UK. He is a prolific author and contributor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional, with over 127 published posts covering HR, employee engagement, and workplace wellbeing topics. His writing focuses on contemporary employment issues including pension schemes, employee health, financial struggles affecting workers, and broader workplace trends.
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
- William Furney
