Mercer holds regular live webcasts on a wide range of global mobility related topics. You can also view and listen to recorded versions of all of these sessions. A list of past recorded webcasts is included below.
There is no cost to participate in or view the webcasts, but we require that you register. You will need an Internet-connected computer equipped for sound.
Upcoming Webcasts
| Webcasts |
Click a Time and Location to Register |
Rationalize Your Approach to Housing
Mike Shore, Sandra Huertas
Housing is one of the costliest pieces of an expatriate package, and local housing markets can be volatile. It is critical to use timely, accurate, neighborhood-specific housing cost data;
set appropriate, reasonable-cost rental guidelines; communicate guidelines clearly to expatriates and relocation firms before the hunt for housing begins; create an approval policy process that help reduce exceptions to housing policy. |
June 11
2pm London |
June 11
2pm New York |
June 19
11am Singapore |
Expatriate or Localize?
Carlos Mestre, Emmanuel Rivere, Ed Hannibal |
October 2
2pm London |
October 2
2pm New York |
October 3
11 am Singapore |
Integrate Talent in Global Mobility
Michael Piker, Ed Hannibal |
November 12 |
November 12 |
|
Recorded Webcasts
Please note: You must provide contact details in order to view these recordings.
Technology Innovation in International Assignment Management
April 2013
Vince Cordova, New York
Frederic Franchi, London
Terri Lafollette, Louisville
Explore the latest developments in the role technology can play in various aspects of expatriate management, from assignment logistics automation to compensation and communications.
Mobility in New and Emerging Markets
March 2013
Sandra Huetas, Mexico City
Olivier Meier, Munich
Michael Piker, Shangai
Mobility from, within, and to the fast-growing emerging markets is here to stay. Mobility patterns and practices vary in such growth regions as Asia, Middle East, and Africa. Given a lower salary basis, how does one construct a pay approach that is fair and equitable, as well as address healthcare and benefits issues in a way that recognizes the unique needs of these markets?
Latest Trends in Global Mobility Policies and Practices
November 2012
Anne Rossier-Renaud and Yvonne Traber, Geneva
Phil Stanley and Tom Farmer, Singapore
Sandra Huertas, Mexico City, and Melissa Mata, Bogotá
James O'Neill, Chicago, and Perri Ma, San Francisco
Find out how other multinational companies are addressing relevant global mobility issues in this overview of best practices in international assignment management. Based on the finding from the 2012 Worldwide Survey of International Assignment Policies and Practices, this webcast will help you evaluate your mobility program to ensure it is competitive and effective.
Solving the Talent Mobility Puzzle: Implications for Global Mobility Managers
May 2012
Steve Nurney and Michael Piker, New York; Carlos Mestre, Geneva
There are many complex issues related to an organization's need to have the right talent in the right places, at the right times, and at reasonable cost. What are the implications to global mobility program design?
Benefits Challenges and Trends for Expatriates and Internationally Mobile Employees
March and April 2012
Roger Herod, Chicago; Callum Burns-Green, San Francisco; Mark Price, London; Tom Farmer, Singapore
This webcast explore trends in expatriate benefit policies, retirement, medical and risk benefits.
Changing lives, changing circumstances: addressing quality of living differences amongst global assignees
November 2011
Anne Rossier-Renaud and Christa Zihlmann, Geneva
How do you motivate your assignees to accept a foreign assignment in countries where living conditions may be considered as "difficult"? This webcast focused on how this "difficulty" can be objectively assessed and what measures and incentives, whether financial or non-financial, can help companies compensate for adverse conditions associated with the assignment location.
Outbound from everywhere: how to appropriately compensate your diverse international team
October 2011
Ed Hannibal and Jordan Blue, Chicago
How should companies cope with the international assignment compensation issues that arise with the growing diversity of nationalities, home country locations and varying salary structures? This session explores the changing trends in the makeup of expatriate populations and the options companies have in choosing how to compensate mobile employees of various backgrounds.
Why auditing your global mobility program is a must-do
September 2011
Steve Nurney, New York
Administering a global mobility program is complex and costly. Compensation-related elements, in particular, are ever-changing and subject to the whims of the global economic environment, and other factors. Program managers need to be on top of evolving best practices. This webcast explores the key areas to consider when auditing the competitiveness and efficiency of a global mobility program.
Localization and Local-Plus Conditions
July 2011
Phil Stanley and Tom Farmer, Singapore
Localization and local-plus packages are two cost-saving alternatives to traditional balance-sheet-based expatratiate assignment compensation approaches. This session discusses they growing popularity of these compensation approaches in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, where they are most prevalent. The session also covers the appropriate circumstances under which to use a localization or local-plus and the balance between cost savings and retention.
Creating global mobility strategies that pay: aligning compensation with objectives
June 2011
Catherine Gervais and Michael Joyce, London
When you send employees on an international assignment, your level
of success is directly linked to both their performance and their level of satisfaction. It is critical that your international assignment compensation programme supports your globally mobile employees, while still aligning with your overall company objectives. During this webcast, Mercer global mobility experts take an in-depth and strategic look at international assignment packages, break down each of the pay elements, and discuss how these elements can be aligned with your company's global mobility objectives.
Latest trends in international assignment policies and practices
April 2011
James O'Neill and Dan Mikes, Chicago
Now more than ever, it is critical for multinational companies to stay informed of the ever changing trends and events in the market that directly affect expatriates and their families. This webcast highlights findings from the 2011 Worldwide Survey of International Assignment Policies and Practices. It is designed to help benefits administrators optimize their global workforce while maintaining their competitive advantage.
International pay structures
November 2010
Carlos Mestre and Yvonne Traber, Geneva
A successful compensation strategy requires the pay models you use are aligned with the objectives of your international assignments program. This webcast covers how salaries compare globally, the impact of taxation and Social Security on salary, effect of COLAs, how to construct/maintain a global pay structure, and more.
Are commuters the
way forward?
October 2010
Elena Oriani, Milan, and Christa Zihlmann, Geneva
The traditional long-term expatriate assignment is becoming less popular as companies are seeking to reduce costs. This webcast covers the differences between short-term, long-term, and commuter assignments; latest practices; and typical compensation structures.
Expatriate tax planning: a complex issue?
September, November 2010
Slagin Parakatil, Geneva, and
Corné J. Leeuwenhaag, Amsterdam
Sending employees on international assignments requires balancing the overall tax burden faced by the expatriate. This webcast covers tax planning advantages and disadvantages, how to avoid double taxation, and analyzed specific case studies.
Negotiating an expatriate compensation package
July 2010
Aggi Kiraly and Viviane Domon, Geneva
Organizations compensate for expatriates emotional and physical upheaval by paying proportional to the degree of hardship and the difference in cost of living. In this webcast, you will discover how to structure a fair expatriate compensation package.
The challenge of dual career expatriates
May 2010
Olivier Meier, London, and Charlotte Harding, Geneva
Recently, companies are having difficulty finding candidates that will accept an international assignment. The challenge is due to dual-career issues that lead the valued candidate to decline the assignment. In this webcast, you will discover ways to overcome this challenge and keep your talent in key positions.
Highlights of Mercer's 2010 International Assignment Survey
March 2010
Madeleine Berger and Christa Zihlmann, Geneva
International assignments are key to the competitiveness and success of multinational corporations. With an increased focus on cost reduction and assignment flexibility, the challenge is to design policy that limits "exceptions" and reduces overall assignment cost. In this webcast, Mercer experts provide you with the latest trends taken from our 2010 International Assignments Survey.
Maintaining expatriate assignment costs in the economic revival
January 2010 (EMEA)
Yvonne Traber and Christa Zihlmann, Geneva
February 2010 (Asia-Pacific)
Cathy Loose, Tokyo
Many organizations have used today's economic situation as an opportunity to take a closer look at their expatriate policies and the allowances and benefits provided. This webcast highlights economic changes and the impact on global assignment management, key changes in mobility programs because of the economy, and the economic effects on mobility policy now and in 2010.
Facilitating
international assignment compensation management – Why is in-house knowledge critical for success?
November, December 2009
Carlos Mestre and Anne Rossier-Renaud, Geneva
A major factor for the success of an international assignment program is the ability to communicate and anticipate expatriate concerns. This webcast provides insights into available methodologies and other options that show the value of having expert knowledge in house. Also you will learn what impact the choices you make as a firm might have on your ability to manage costs and ease the barriers to mobility.
Expatriate localisation: to localise or not?
September, October 2009
Yvonne Traber and Christa Zihlmann, Geneva
Recently, more companies are reviewing their localisation policy as a part of their global mobility program or modifying their current policies and practices. The rational behind this trend is cost containment. This web briefing uses Mercer survey research and experience to discuss how organizations transition expatriate compensation packages to local status.
Expatriate management policies: theory vs practice
June, September 2009
Ivana Gibson, Richmond, and Yvonne Traber, Geneva
As you know cost containment is currently a hot topic among companies across the globe. A growing number are reorganizing and streamlining their expatriate management policies. This web briefing provides an overview of expatriate management policy theory using real life companies as examples to discuss current policy trends.
Best practices for setting expatriate allowances
August 2009
Cathy Loose, Tokyo
This webcast details how to calculate the various components of a typical expatriate compensation package including cost-of-living, housing and hardship allowances using a home-based/balance sheet approach. The session illustrates the different assumptions that can be used and will outline the differences between low, medium and high cost compensation packages. Mercer's expatriate management tool, Global HRMonitor, is used to do actual calculations/case studies.
How to build an effective expatriate compensation package
July 2009
Yvonne Traber and Carlos Mestre, Geneva, and Ivana Gibson, Richmond
This web briefing details how to calculate the various components of a typical expatriate compensation package including cost-of-living, housing, and hardship allowances using a home-based/balance sheet approach. Mercer's expatriate management tool, Global HRMonitor is used to do actual calculations/case studies.
Setting and communicating competitive expatriate allowances
April 2009
Yvonne Traber and Carlos Mestre, Geneva, and Ivana Gibson, Richmond
This web briefing is presented by Carlos Mestre, Head of Mercer's Global mobility business; Yvonne Traber, Regional Global mobility business development leader; and Ivana Gibson, Regional Leader Americas. They discuss how to design a competitive expatriate package and the best ways to communicate it to employees.
Managing expatriates in unprecedented times – containing international assignment costs
February 2009
Yvonne Traber and Carlos Mestre, Geneva
Over the past decade we have witnessed unprecedented growth in overseas investments which has led to a significant increase in the number of international assignments. Now that we are experiencing a global economic downturn, many organizations are facing new financial challenges that strongly impact international assignment practices. In this web briefing, Carlos Mestre, Head of Mercer's Global mobility business, and Yvonne Traber, Regional Global mobility business development leader, discuss practical tips and current trends in the field of international assignments.
The challenge of
expatriate housing – managing costs and expatriates' expectations
January, June 2009
Marie-Laurence Sépède and Charlotte James, Geneva
During today's tough economic times, housing provisions can have a significant impact on assignees compensation packages and their expectations. In this web briefing, Marie-Laurence Sepede, Mercer expatriate housing services product manager, discusses recent trends and issues in expatriate accommodation prices. Charlotte James, MercerPassport product manager, explores how to effectively manage your assignee and their family expectations.
Managing expatriate
compensation – the currency and inflation challenge
October 2008, May 2009
Yvonne Traber, Geneva
As the global economy faces turbulent times, it appears that the sustained period of economic growth and certainty has come to an end or at best, is on hold. The US Dollar is back in favour as the world de-risks, moving out of high risk currencies and central banks struggle to grapple with high inflation and slowing economic growth. This free briefing explores how currency fluctuations and inflationary pressures are impacting on expatriate compensation, with particular focus on how inflationary pressures are affecting international assignments.
