Steps are taken to assure that the transition and the assimilation to the new country will be successful. Our HR Service Center coordinates immigration, tax and relocation programs to assist our employees and their family when accepting an international assignment. Programs include orientation on Company policies, home and foreign tax requirements and specific tax matters, temporary living assistance and other measures to facilitate the move.

An intranet-based compilation of previous experiences is available to our employees and supervisors. International relocation experiences, discussions with immigration attorneys and income tax specialists as well as a review of other organizations "best immigration practices" are included.

Through those discussions and previous experiences, we have been able to create a handbook that answers frequent employment-related and personal questions about the transition to a new position in a new country and that helps reduce the normal anxiety of an international relocation.

A roadmap for Supervisors is also made available to help them appreciate the steps our employees are undertaking during an international relocation and provides information on actions that are critical in the planning and execution of each assignment.