Moving with the Times: Why Partner and Spouse Employment Access Contributes to Successful Global Mobility Policy
Studies have shown that spouse and partner work access remains the number one factor affecting the success of a global assignment. Where government legislation facilitates direct work access for dependents of mobile employees, the benefits are felt by the mobile family, the company and host country. In this session, Permits Foundation will provide the data behind why a dual-career policy assists talent acquisition and supports diversity and inclusion. We will demonstrate where and how we have been successful in advocating for change—highlighting countries that are best practice and those on the path to better legislation. We will also reflect on the changed global mobility landscape and why certainty for mobile employees and their families is more important than ever.
Learning Objectives:
Garner insight into the global landscape on mobile partner and spouse employment access.
Access the evidence behind why dual-career policy is tied to talent acquisition, supporting diversity and inclusion.
Experience advocacy strategy in practice in target countries.
Helen Frew
Helen Frew is Director of Permits Foundation and has 18 years of international advocacy experience spent in the UK, Brussels and The Hague, representing organisations from both the public and private sphere and working in and around the EU institutions. At Permits Foundation she develops strategy to work with governments worldwide, aiming to improve legislation to facilitate work access for partners and spouses of mobile employees. “Global mobility advocacy is such an exciting field to work in. There is never a dull moment and so much potential for contributing to change that benefits employee integration, company talent acquisition and country attractiveness as a place to do business.
Wibke Bittner
Wibke Bittner works as HR-manager for the Global Assignments-Team at Volkswagen AG and is located in Wolfsburg, Germany. After various positions in educational and extracurricular departments as well as in international HR she is responsible for the group wide Partner Support Program since 2011.
Her main focus is to balance the diverse requirements of relocating partners with fast changing surrounding conditions and a group wide consistent mobility policy.
Des McKell
Des McKell has spent 30 years in the world of relocation and global talent mobility, working for Relocation Management Companies and now with NetExpat, the world’s leading provider of Intercultural training and Relocating partner assistance. During his career, Des has helped organisations across all sectors and industries to build talent mobility programmes designed to deliver “experience” led support and is an advocate managed intercultural and partner support which if mis-managed, can become a “hard” risk to organisations talent strategy and financial investment. Des is based out of the NetExpat UK office in London and is Regional Director for UK & Ireland. LinkedIn profile
Laurette Bennhold-Samaan
Laurette Bennhold-Samaan is an international executive with over 30 years of experience in world-class organizations including Accenture, The World Bank, Honda of America, and The Peace Corps. Laurette is currently VP, Global Advisory Services, NetExpat (Global Provider for Intercultural Solutions and Partner Assistance) and prior she was VP, HR for an international non-governmental organization.
Laurette is steeped in the global mobility field as she led Accenture’s Global Mobility department and co-created the Global Mobility department at The World Bank, supporting expatriates and their families in preparation for assignments in over 100 countries. She has authored and co-authored several intercultural books. Laurette has personal experience with Global Mobility having been an expat, an accompanying spouse and a child of an expat. Born in Egypt, Laurette has lived in Nigeria, Germany and Canada. She currently resides outside Washington DC with her family. LinkedIn profile.
Gill Gordon
Gill Gordon is Chair of Permits Foundation and has been a Board Member since its establishment in 2001. Gill spent most of her career with Schlumberger and her last appointment was as HR Director UK from 2014 to 2020, based in London. She held many different positions including HR Director for the global seismic business WesternGeco, Director Executive Compensation for Schlumberger, and HR Director for the global R&D population. She played a key role in setting up and developing a shared services organisation for the HR function in Europe, Caspian and Africa and was also HR Director for a global electricity and gas utilities business.
Gill was involved in a number of strategic initiatives in the areas of career development, diversity and mobility as well as numerous acquisitions and divestitures. During her career, she spent over ten years in expatriate assignments in France, Germany and the US. Gill started her career in international HR at Ford Motor Company and has a BA Hons. in French & German from Heriot-Watt University.