One in three businesses fail to prioritise overseas employee wellbeing, says Everywhen

Nearly one in three businesses do not prioritise the health and wellbeing of employees working overseas, despite growing concerns about the success of international assignments, according to research from employee benefits consultancy Everywhen.

The study found that 32% of employers did not make overseas employee health and wellbeing a priority, while only 60% said employee safety ranked among their top priorities. At the same time, more than a third (35%) are concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of overseas staff, with the same proportion worried about physical health, and 34% citing concerns over personal safety.

The findings highlight a potential gap between employer concerns and the support provided, raising questions around duty of care and compliance with country-specific employment requirements.

Sarah Dennis, Head of International at Everywhen, said: “Health, safety, and wellbeing – all areas that are also connected to the happiness of a workforce – should be the top priorities for supporting all employees, whether they are based in the UK or overseas. However, it is arguably even more important to prioritise these areas for employees based abroad where there may be less readily available support and employees can be isolated.”

Everywhen said employers should review the support available to international staff and ensure it reflects local regulatory requirements, which vary by country.

The research also found employers remained focused on commercial outcomes, with 47% prioritising the success of overseas assignments and 41% citing career progression. Meanwhile, 26% worry employees will become unhappy and want to return home, while 19% are concerned assignments may fail, underlining the business case for investing in employee wellbeing.

Virginie Faucon, Global Head of Marketing and Brand at AXA Global Healthcare, recently spoke to ITIJ about how companies could meet the evolving needs of expats.