Expat Community > England

tomwatts
Joined 2006
Posts: 4

Expat Package Review - Is this fair?

18 years ago

See Early Research - Expat Package for more detail. I can't post to it for some reason.

Here's what my company has offered:

-US Salary: 52,000 (Springfield, IL)
-COLA: 40%
-Exchange rate parity if rates move against me by 10% or more in a calander year
-2-bedroom flat including all utilities (electric, gas, water, sewer, garbage, satellite, and taxes): Provided
-Transportation Allowance: $200/month
-VISA and Work Permits for both my wife and I: Provided
-20 days of vacation vs. 10 days here in the US
-A 10% bonus for each assignment year of completion
-All expense paid, one week trip for wife and I to work with a real estate agent and relocation consultant to find a flat and intercultural training
-$5,500 relocation bonus plus shipment of all necessary personal items to London and settling-in services (people take us around for the first week)
-2 weeks of paid home leave - 2 round-trip tickets per year for my wife and I (4 tickets total)
-Tax Equalization, consultations, and preparation by PriceWaterHouseCoopers
-Assistance for my wife to find a job (job search, career counseling, recruitment agency, and interview travel fees)
-Repatriation services at the end of the assignment (airfare back, moving personal items back, $5,500 bonus

I will still have my home in the US, however the company will pay for mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance, and all utilities - therefore my only out-of-pocket will be mortgage principal.

How does this compare to other expat offers? Anything else I should be asking for? The COLA appears low, but with all they are providing, how much should I fuss? I have asked them to sell my house rather than pay for all expenses except mortgage principal, but they said I must have residence in the US and then they would have to pay for a realtor, moving, and storage for the duration of the assignment.

Thanks for your input!

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