R O M E J .
W O N G F .
C O V R I G A .
C A R A T A S A .
W E I S S E N S T E I N E R A .
Dual Career CouplesTeam TWIX
A G E N D A
Introduction & Definition
Challenges• Social ties• Linked lives• Trailing spouse
Solutions
Conclusion
Discussion
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Dual Career Couples
First used in 1969
Both partners pursue an independent career
High involvement
Partners are highly educated
Upward career orientation
Increased popularity with changing gender roles
Positive vs. Negative Aspects
Better career
opportunities
Professional autonomy
Financial
independence
Organized private life
Loneliness
Increased tension in
marriage and family
“ (The) spouse plays a key role during expatriation
in terms of willingness to go, assignment
completion, expatriate adjustment and expatriate
performance.”
Dr. Jim McNulty, 2012
Challenges For HR
1. Expatriates’ social ties:
“recruiting the best” often means
“recruiting the best couple”
2. The “linked lives” issue:
Stress management
Time management
Parenting & family support
3. The spouse
High importance of his/her career
Convincing the spouse to move abroad
Keeping the same career level
Providing adequate compensation
Repatriation Problem
Challenges For HR
Recruit the right candidate
Family life cycle stage
Career life cycle stage
Dual career assistance
Find placement for
spouse
Career-enhancing
activities for spouse
Biggest challenge : family readiness and adaptability
Interview
„Every partner wants to have a career“
Growing trend of dual-career couples
Conclusion
1. How does having children affect the performance and
success of exaptriate assignments in dual-career couples?
2. What is the difference between dual-career couples
working for the same company and dual-career couples
working in the same city but for different companies? How
will it affect both personal and professional life?
Question 1:
According to the findings and statistics of the group, women
are as successful working internationally abroad as men.
How is that possible considering all these additional
challenges? Does HR offer additional support to women?
Question 2:
What can International HR Managers do to avoid being
accused of catering to female expatriates too much, while
giving them that full support?
As realistically, it is still more likely for women to face
discrimination in the workplace.
Female Expatriation: Questions