Coming to work in the UK generally demands more time and effort than you would put in if you were staying at home. For the most part, employers understand this, and plan to offer some assistance and support. After all, they need you to be happy so you can do your job. Check what’s on offer before you leave home, take time to think through the kinds of challenges you might face during your stay, and negotiate for any extras you feel are necessary.
Also, make sure that you keep the right lines of communication open with your employer in your home country when you’re in the UK. You never know when you will need some assistance.
TYPES OF SUPPORT THAT EMPLOYERS MAY OFFER
Generally speaking, if you need to carry out activities that would not have been necessary if you were doing the same job at home, then there is a case for asking your employer to assist you with them. Typical examples are booking travel and arranging visas, and for these and similar items, there will be an obvious case for your employer to help out. For others, you may have to share details of your particular personal circumstances to illustrate why there is a need for something extra in your case.
» RELOCATION COSTS
Generally, employers should take responsibility for some, if not the majority of cost and effort involved in relocation. Employers often put together a relocation package outlining their commitment to you on issues like visas, work permit, travel and accommodation. This should extend to your partner and dependent children if they are joining you.
» GENERAL ORIENTATION & CROSS-CULTURAL TRAINING
Dependent on your circumstances and your level of exposure to life in the UK, it may be of value to you to attend training focussed on helping people from overseas to acclimatise to UK culture. If you feel this would help you, you may want to see if your employer has any recommendations, is willing to pay for it, and/or is willing to allow you to take the time to attend it.
» PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
You should agree the basics of what is expected of you overseas with your employer. Consider how your experience will relate to your job function once you return home, and identify any additional training and development activities you would benefit from both in the UK and on your return to your home country. Employers might help you out with these in terms of resources, time and money, particularly where you can demonstrate the additional value that your training will bring to the organisation.
» HEALTH INSURANCE
Healthcare may not be free for you in the UK, and consequently you can reasonably request for your employer to reimburse you for any costs you incur. They may prefer to do this through an insurance policy. These normally include an excess, meaning that you have to pay an initial level in the event of a claim. For more information on healthcare in the UK, refer to our Introduction to UK healthcare.
» ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT OF UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
Many things can happen while you are in the UK. Some may affect you directly, such as an accident or illness. Some may relate to your job, for example redundancy. Others might relate to your loved ones back home. You need to know in advance the circumstances for which your employer will assist you with additional time off, trips home or permanent repatriation.
» MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS BACK HOME
If you’re planning to be in the UK for longer than a month or so, it’s likely you’re going to want to visit home from time to time, and to keep in touch with family and friends via regular phone and email contact. Your employer may be willing to help, perhaps buying mobile and computing equipment for you and family, contributing to your phone bills and the cost of travel back home, or allowing you extra holiday.
» REPATRIATION COSTS
If your employer in the UK plans to continue employing you back home, the cost of getting you, your belongings and if applicable your family back home should be met by them.
GET EMPLOYER COMMITMENT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME
» EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO NEGOTIATE & COMMIT IN WRITING
Unless you are happy with what your employer has already told you about the terms and conditions of your trip to the UK, you have every right to ask for more support.
In order to reach an agreement with their overseas employees, many employers will have a standard procedure to follow, which is likely to culminate in a written outline of their commitment to you, again, possibly based on a standard outline. If they do not have this, they should be aware that your situation is an exceptional one, requiring a period of negotiation with you, followed by a written commitment on their part.
» GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE INVOLVED
Human Resources (HR) departments generally have direct responsibility for these kinds of discussions. If you are relocating with your existing company, you may need to talk to HR representatives both at home and in the UK. You may want to include your future UK manager in parts of the discussions as well, since they have a vested interest in having you there in the right time frame, and the right frame of mind.
» COMPROMISE, BUT NOT THE POINT OF DISCOMFORT
Only you can know what support you need from your employer, and what it means for you and your intended trip to the UK if they are unable to offer a certain type of assistance. You may need to compromise, but if you genuinely feel you are not going to be treated fairly, you may need to consider if the opportunity or the timing is really right for you.
ENSURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT CONTACTS WHEN IN THE UK
It’s all too easy to land overseas, and wonder where the level of support that got you there in the first place has gone. Best practice dictates that you should have a host country HR contact, as well as your host country line manager to help you.
Make sure you know who these people are, make yourself known to them if you haven’t already, and if you feel you need it, ask for regular, informal meetings to discuss any issues or concerns relating to settling in to your new job and country. Another option is to ask if one of your peers could play a role in supporting you as you acclimatise.