Leaving an assignment early - any experiences?

[longwave]

Does anyone have an personal or anecdotal experience of leaving an international assignment early?

Our current situation is not working for either of us on any level. Between DH and I, we've lived in 8 countries so we know all about culture shock, missing home, or how it gets better once you adjust and meet like-minded people, etc. These are not the main issues. (In fact, if we do leave we're not going back to my home country anyway.)

DH's job hasn't met any expectations, and changes in government policy in the months before we arrived means I can't work, which was a huge blow to us. Plus, we don't really like this place. We are desperate for an out. We're grumbling non-stop, making us the exact kind of toxic expats people try their hardest to avoid!

We are on a sort of hybrid-local package, so the return was not factored in. We were told if we leave before 2 years we'll have to pay back all the relocation costs. We are not sure if they will enforce it or not.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Has anyone ever successfully convinced their company to send them back? I have spoken to one woman who was able to do so, but she did not have a massive relocation expense (it was an intra-EU move).

We're are at the point where we'd pay any amount to get us out of here, but it is going to ruin us financially. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Any and all help would be so massively appreciated!

I don't know what to say but good luck and bump.

The only one I know of was my ex, he was advised to state family problems which worked for him. How long have you been in the country? Are your DH's work expectations contractural or fulfillment ie, the job is not what was offered. Was your move based on your ability to work, would it have been for the same company? If you left, would you work for the company elsewhere or be leaving them completely?

I'd approach them on compassionate grounds and get a feel for the response. We too were at the point of wantin to quit our assignment, but as the company changed conditions on us part way through we had a legitimate out where they would have to relocate us. It's worked out in the end, we've moved to a better location.

I understand how you feel and hope you can work something out to your benefit.

You say if you leave before 2 years are up, you have to pay back the relocation costs. How far off 2 years are you, how much time have you been there?

I withdrew from a foreign contract early without any problems giving health issues as my reason which was accepted.

I think a lot depends on negotiation.

If your husband is valued by his company, there is a role available for him at home, and they bear some responsibility for how things have panned out (eg the role he was sold isnt what he's got due to some failing by the company)then I think it's worth approaching them and just being honest about it.

We are on IA No 2. IA No.1 didnt really work out for us- the country itself was ok but the role was much smaller than previously envisaged as the company didnt invest in the new office due to the global financial meltdown. After discussions, they agreed to move us again and it's worked out really well.