I've seen the informative postings on expat packages for US citizens transferring with multinationals; I was an expat in the UK a few years back for a long-term assignment with my company, so understand the necessity for a COLA, ISE premium, hypo tax (which, I must add, still baffles me with my company's outside consultant doing my tax returns for the last 5 years), housing allowance and home leave. My husband (US citizen) is looking at an opportunity in London with a company HQ-d in the US, but indications are he'd be treated as a local. While salary and benefits would be good by local standards (i.e. commensurate with position, experience, etc.), it would leave us somewhat exposed from an expat perspective. Assuming that we can at least negotiate (1) tax protection of some sort and (2) currency rate protection (plus good relo package, immigration/visa expenses) , is it reasonable to ask a senior management/ executive-level hire to be treated as a local for salary/benefits? If he's paid in GBP, is it typical not to provide a housing allowance (i.e. under the rationale of "well, I can make a go of it under that salary, why can't he?")?
It's a good opportunity and would be a shame to pass it up because we don't get the same perks we had last time. I could work, too, but have a little boy now so different circumstances. I suppose my bottom line question is what are the essential perks one needs if paid in GBP to come out financially neutral?
I'd appreciate some of the sage advice I saw to similar expat bene questions -- it really put things in better perspective!
It's a good opportunity and would be a shame to pass it up because we don't get the same perks we had last time. I could work, too, but have a little boy now so different circumstances. I suppose my bottom line question is what are the essential perks one needs if paid in GBP to come out financially neutral?
I'd appreciate some of the sage advice I saw to similar expat bene questions -- it really put things in better perspective!
