Why Repatriation Support Matters: Retain Your Global Talent After They Return Home

Sending employees abroad is a big investment—and for good reason. International assignments can shape exceptional leaders. But here’s the part too many companies miss: what happens after they come home?

Reentry is often the most overlooked phase of the global mobility cycle—and one of the most costly to ignore.

The Hard Truth:

Up to 40% of repatriated employees leave their company within a year of returning.

Source: Forum Expat Management

That’s a loss not just of talent, but of leadership potential, institutional knowledge, and significant financial investment.

The Often-Unspoken Challenges of Coming Home

Returning expats face real personal as well as professional hurdles, including:

  • Reverse culture shock and emotional disorientation

  • A sense of disconnection from their home country and office culture

  • Ambiguity about their role, career path, and professional identity

  • Struggles translating global experience into advancement opportunities

These aren’t just growing pains. They’re retention risks.

Repatriation Support Is a Strategic Advantage

Reentry support isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s a smart, forward-thinking move that tells employees,

“We value you as a person and your entire journey—not just the time spent abroad as an employee.”

Companies that invest in the return phase:

  • Improve retention and engagement

  • Maximize ROI on global assignments

  • Strengthen leadership pipelines

  • Stand out as employers of choice in competitive markets

A Smarter Way to Support Returning Expats

Our repatriation programs are built around the psychology of transition and designed to meet real needs.

We offer:

  • Courses and coaching designed for returning expats

  • Flexible delivery: self-paced, cohort-based, or custom rollout

  • Reentry journals and reflection guides

  • Specialized add-ons for families and team leaders

This isn’t a soft landing. It’s a reboarding experience that empowers employees to lead with clarity, purpose, and resilience.

Make Reentry an Advantage—Not a Risk

When you support your global employees on the way back home, they’re far more likely to stay, contribute, and thrive.

Let’s talk about how to bring this to your team.

Email Amy Miller at a.miller@expatresilience.com

Next
Next

6 Lessons that Changed How I Navigate Life Transitions (as a Transition Coach)