International assignments: A global assignee perspective

Annelyse Fournier, HR Lead Manufacturing Europe & Africa, Monsanto

• How is the landscape for expatriate staff changing?

• What are the main cultural and workplace challenges facing an employee on international assignment?

• Practical advice for facilitating international careers and relocating the employee’s family

• Drawing upon HR experiences: The importance of international reward strategies and    aligning benefits across global locations

• Managing expatriate staff whilst undergoing company restructuring and change processes 

Understanding the statutory rights of international assignees and contractual obligations for employers

Michael Bradshaw, Partner, Charles Russell

• The rights of UK employees overseas: Key issues on jurisdiction and applicable law

• The contract of employment: Managing terms and conditions, mobility clauses and 'dual contracts'

• Practical advice on EEA based assignments and immigration

Coffee

Tax and internationally mobile employees: What are the potential risks?

Clive Fathers, Partner, Employer Solutions, Grant Thornton

Alex Simpson, Senior Manager, Employer Solutions, Grant Thornton

• Cross border tax planning: Residency status, double taxation and tax equalisation

• What are the tax implications of long and short-term international assignments for employers?

• Getting to grips with host country tax regimes: Top tips for ensuring mobility around the EMEA area

• Understanding international social security agreements and local customs

• Practical advice for HR: Policy reviews and keeping in tune with legislative developments

Lunch

Developing a global workforce and international HR strategies at Interserve Facilities Management

Steve Thomas, HR Director, Interserve Facilities Management

• The business case for creating global workforce and international mobility structures

• Which HR processes and practices apply pre-assignment?

• Developing staff and improving flexibility through international assignments

• Managing the end process: Repatriation or localisation?

Managing objective based global assignments within Brown Forman Beverages, Europe, Ltd

Kim Miller, HR DIRECTOR - International, Brown-Forman Beverages, Europe, Ltd

• Practical advice for immigration planning and transferring talent across global locations

• Considering the needs of the employee: Relocation visits, health cover and family allowances

• Tracking mobility of global assignees and keeping in touch

• Effective cost management and continued development of international HR strategies

Coffee

Terminating international assignments and ensuring legal compliance

Gary Freer, Partner, McGrigors

• Returning home: Employee rights and tricky issues such as redundancy and redeployment

• Realigning the contract of employment and deciding which benefits should remain in force

• Terminating the contract whilst on assignment: Practical advice for meeting procedural requirements and avoiding litigation in both jurisdictions

• Enforcing restrictive covenants and garden leave on termination and overcoming cross- border difficulties

Panel Session: Ask our expert panel about the employment, reward, tax and social security issues which arise when managing international assignments

Michael Bradshaw, Partner, Charles Russell

Alex Simpson, Senior Manager, Employer Solutions, Grant Thornton

Steve Thomas, HR Director, Interserve Facilities Management

Kim Miller, HR DIRECTOR - International, Brown-Forman Beverages, Europe, Ltd

Gary Freer, Partner, McGrigors

Chair’s closing remarks and end of conference