b'DIVERSITY & INCLUSIONPROVISION TRADITIONAL PROGRESSIVEFamily Home Leave Same days, accompanied and unaccompanied;Additional days for unaccompanied; no requirement to requirement to return home return home, reverse visits in lieu allowedEducational Assistance Tuition for Pre-K, Primary, Secondary where localTuition, assistance in school selection, tutoring, options are deemed inadequate including accommodations for special needsSpouse/Partner Assistance Offered to spouses, geared toward stay-at-homeOffered to same-sex, opposite-sex, both male moms, career and volunteer focus and femaleHome Finding Programs and searches geared to level, family size,Custom needs analysis, properties meeting and budget requirements for people with different abilities.Visa/Immigration Support for work visa for employee/assignee, legalComprehensive support for employee and family unit, residence in the host country for dependentsas defined by the individual, as allowed in the host which often only includes married opposite-gendercountry (e.g., grandparent, caregiver, same-gender partners and children partner, married or unmarried)Tax Compliance/Support Full tax equalization or tax gross-up assistanceCould include partial tax support on personal income depending on the home and host countryand/or spouse/partner income; tax gross-up assistance combinations on any taxable benefits Companies that thrive will flex more more robust and flexible spouse/partner assistance, more frequent home leave, or support for spouse/partners who remain in the home country, companies are seeing the benefits of focusing on to the diverse needs of their highlyemployee experience. They are understanding that providing support that fosters the highest levels of engagement creates a valued employeescadre of most valuable players.Companies global mobility programs still need to balance equal opportunity for overseas assignments with the need to follow local laws and ensure protection for the employee/assignee while overseas. Up until 2008, for example, cohabitating partners and same-gender spouses were not recognized as legal in the U.S. and were prevented from seeking visas to the country. It took another five years for same-gender spouses to be eligible for dependent visas based on their legal marriage, following the United States IN IT FOR THE Supreme Court decision in the Defense of Marriage Act case in 2013.LONG RUNSame-gender marriage today is possible in 28 countries, while in more than 70 countries, same-gender marriages and/or partners are prohibited. Assignees may face discrimination or dangerous situations due to a lack of societal acceptance of their family structures. Employers who wish to strike a balance between making overseas assignments accessible to the best qualified Weve been running like this for more than half a century. assignees and ensuring they can do so with limited restrictions, must consider whether a particular jurisdiction is a place where assignees who choose to be accompanied by family will feel safe and respected while ensuring the objectives of the assignment are met for all stakeholders. Employers should make sure that the host workplace is welcoming and enforces workplace protections. For more than 50 years, weve kept pace withFinally, involving the assignee in critical discussions about the the constantly evolving needs of globallysuitability of the assignment will help the employer to develop mobile employees, with innovative solutionssuccessful programs over time. that connect them to quality health care andLooking ahead, companies that thrive will flex more to supportwherever they are, whenever theythe diverse needs of their highly valued employees and, in need us. return, will reap the benefits of employees who put forth their And were not stopping. best contributions. Technology will play a significant role in supporting the progression from simply recruiting and hiring Visit us to learn more:CignaGlobalHealth.com diversely to collaborating and performing work inclusively.Traditional solutions like face-to-face training will be augmented by sophisticated online tools and virtual training that increase understanding and improve communication. 2018 Cigna. Offered by: Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company or its affiliates. Laura Levenson is director of consulting services at Weichert Workforce Mobility. 112550-In It for Long Run-ad@CERC.indd 1 1/22/19 5:05 PM16PERSPECTIVES Winter 2019'