RELOCATING PARTNER SURVEY: FOCUS ON THE SPLIT FAMILY

Duty of care has long been central to global mobility—but its scope is widening. As organizations face new workforce expectations, diverse family profiles, and increasingly global teams, the question becomes: What does meaningful care look like today?

In a recent conversation with NetExpat, Mark Vaughan, Head of Global Mobility Policy at Maersk, offered a candid look at what it takes to modernize mobility policies in a way that is practical, inclusive, and aligned with today’s workforce realities.

Sam combines a bilingual, multicultural upbringing with deep global mobility experience. Born in Belgium to a British father and Belgian mother, she began her career in education—later moving into consultancy and, in 2003, into international mobility. At NetExpat since 2009, Sam blends operational excellence with advisory insight, working directly with clients and assignees to design people‑centered solutions. She thrives on building trusted relationships across cultures and supporting family wellbeing, partner careers, and sustainable assignments. Her practical, empathetic approach turns complex mobility challenges into positive outcomes for organizations and the people they move.

Insights from Adeline Ong on how KPMG prioritizes repatriation.

For nearly a decade, the Relocating Family Support Survey —developed in partnership between NetExpat and EY—has served as the industry’s most comprehensive benchmark on the experience of relocating partners and families. Since its launch in 2018, the survey has captured insights from more than 4,400 participants worldwide, helping organizations understand the realities facing globally mobile families and the policies that most effectively support them. The 2026 edition builds on this foundation with input from over 340 respondents across 50 countries, offering a timely view into how mobility expectations, workforce demographics, and business priorities continue to evolve.

International relocations are a big adjustment for employees, but they can be an even bigger adjustment for their accompanying spouses or partners. This is especially true if they were a part of a dual income household in their country of origin. While organizations often focus on logistical support for the employee, the success of an international assignment hinges equally on the well-being of the entire family. If a relocating partner struggles to integrate, it can have negative impacts on the partner’s state of mind, the couple’s relationship, the employee’s ability to focus on their new role, and both assignment and organizational objectives.

Anu brings over seven years of experience in Learning & Development and Human Resources, shaping her career around helping people grow, adapt, and thrive. Her early passion for psychometrics, talent management, and capability‑building led her into the HR solutions space, where she deepened her expertise in behavioral insights and learning strategy before stepping into her role as Senior Manager, Advisory Services – India at NetExpat. Today, she supports Indian talent navigating global mobility and intercultural transitions, energized by daily conversations with individuals from around the world and inspired by the continuous learning that comes from working with a truly global team.

When it comes to global talent mobility, agility is crucial to an organization’s long-term strategy and competitiveness. With mounting pressure to deliver seamless employee experiences—while managing cost, compliance, and cultural complexity—the question isn’t just what to outsource, but also what to own and automate to stay relevant and scalable over time.  This post explores how companies can align operational choices with their internal capacity, cultural context, and long-term goals. The right balance is unique to each organization’s talent and operational needs.

Des brings over 25 years of global mobility expertise, beginning with guiding people through the life-changing decision of buying and selling homes before moving into relocation in 1990. His passion lies in building impactful, human-centered mobility solutions, shaped by personal relocation experiences and lessons in cultural awareness. At NetExpat, he thrives on the intrapreneurial energy of a global team that feels like a “27-year-old start-up,” inspired daily by colleagues’ talent and dedication. Motivated by the chance to create sustainable solutions that truly make a difference for individuals, families, and organizations, Des envisions mobility evolving into a strategic, end-to-end resource that elevates the human experience.