Expat packages - what to expect?

[wonderingwondering]

We've been asked to live abroad for a few years for DH's work.

I know it is usual to expect housing, school fees plus some extra salary for being overseas, but how many (long haul) flights home per year should we ask for? Is it reasonable to ask for business class flights? For a family of 4?

School fees, rent, health insurance, shipping and one set of family flights home a year I would say are required.

Possibles: car: temporary car hire: business class flights: child benefit compensation: extra salary for being abroad: furniture purchase if shipping is not offered.

Corporates get nicer packages than public sector, obv.

Fewer companies see going abroad as hardship: not hard to understand why.

Thanks (again...).

I may be being ridiculous here, but is there ever any element of compensation for loss of spouse's income? I work in the UK, probably wouldn't if we were overseas as my job is pretty UK-specific. Or (as I suspect) would we expect that to be covered in a pay uplift for being overseas/to compensate for increased living costs?

And does any reduced overseas tax rate fall exclusively for our benefit, or do firms tend to stick to UK salary levels and take the view that you are now paying x% less in tax so that's effectively a pay rise?

More questions, but I've found the responses on this thread enormously helpful

All negotiable. Some operate under UK tax rates, some local. Don't forget you have the fking exchange rate too which is a nightmare and you might want to build in stability or compensation for that. Some local tax rates mean you aren't taxed when you are out of the country on business.

Your first question -- I'd say no, not at all. You have to take some responsibility for the move! as presumably you can always say no. If your dh wants to ask for it, obviously that's his choice. He might get it but it wouldn't be automatic. Unless they heart him very much.

re: the spouse thing, not heard of anyone getting compensation but had I wanted to work over here dh's package included the relocation agent liasing with employment agencies etc to assist me finding work...

Yes compensation unlikely, but if he is in a position to push a bit on the package that's certainly an argument to put forth.
DH is currently doing this as we have set up a business here for which I'll have to travel back and forth if we move and they know that relocating him will have a cost for me.

There was an element of compensation for loss of spouse salary in our package. I didn't work so it didn't affect me much (they did pay my child benefit, though). If I took a job in the US, they would have reduced DH's package, so they do think about it in their policy.

I also got a $10k fund per year to pay for leisure/enrichment in all my free time

So.... schools. Most likely scenario atm is that we may be heading over to Singapore in January 2011, for 2-3 years.

DD will be in Yr 1 from Sept this year. DS will be in pre-reception year, would be starting UK reception in Sept 2011. So our children are, and will be for all our time there, very young, so not sure how worried to be about the UK curriculum. I'd envisage them coming back to a UK prep school, if that makes an difference.

How are mid-year arrivals dealt with (I assume the academic year is similar to the UK's - looks like August to June/July?)? I've been looking at schools online, but without an office location, an idea of where we'd live, and what to be looking for in a school, I'm a little stuck!

And is there much movement in and out of Sing schools - do I need to be going out to view and choose schools before they break for summer this year with a view to securing a place for Jan next year? Or is it possible to arrange a place in a good, well-located school at quite short notice?

Sorry for the multiple questions, but we're the first to do this from DH's firm, and your responses have been so helpful. Thanks

hello again

I think it would be safer to arrange a tour before the summer hols and put their name down for the january intake.
It is very common for families to be relocated mid-year as this a very transient place. However they still give priority to children already on the waitlist and some of these children may already be in singapore in other "lesser" schools for a few terms until they get place in the chosen school.

There are currently some threads where we discuss schools.
Have a look.
Basically most of the "good" schools are in the same sort of area and school bus services run very efficiently.
So where you live and work is only really relevant in terms of commute if you are going to be based north (then Singapore american School would be a good match) or East ( various international schools now have eastcoast campuses).

From our visit a few years ago, and looking at school locations, I think we'd be aiming for Orchard Rd area, as it is central (I recall) for office space, and I suppose quite handy, socially, for me?

I found a few threads here on schools and I've emailed them - I see what you say about getting on the wait list to get priority (although that seems to be an expensive past-time!!).

I am so grateful for your responses, we've moved on a huge amount in the last week in terms of our knowledge. There should be further developments this week, from DH's firm, and we may be lining up a visit in early June, so I'm sure I'll be back again for more guidance!

A typical expat package to me would be housing, school fees, health insurance, 1 or 2 economy flights home a year. If you are lucky you may get a car allowance, club membership.

We are in Singapore too and if you are coming with kids then I would say that initially you should look at renting a condo for the first few years, you will have all the facilities like pool/gym etc and the kids will make friends if its a kid-centric condo.

I think the prices mentioned before are a bit high...we stay in Holland Village, in a 4 bed condo and pay $5k per month, yes its old but its very spacious. You could get a decent house off Bukit Timah Rd for about 7-10k a month. If you want a newer condo it will be more expensive but much smaller, so you have to weigh up space over new..

Thank you, that's very interesting. We're not fussed about having a brand new condo, space is more important.

I'll look into Holland Village and Bukit Timah - are they towards the East Coast (the schools there seem to be the ones with greater availability). Is the commute into the working/office area OK from there?

No they are not near the East Coast, but its an easy commute to the CBD.

If you are looking at schools on the East Coast there is an area of condos in a place called Tanjong Rhu - there is Pebble Bay, Costa Rhu to name a few, they are East Coast but closest to the city.

Thank you. I'll look at the area you suggest - it is good to have a few ideas to focus on before we come to visit (googlemap is great but only takes me so far!).

Why are you focusing on Orchard for office space?
There are some wonderful cheaper options all around town.

If you want to be on the east coast, yes, Tanjung Rhu is good, very "resorty". Not my preference as most blocks are HUGE and its usually a riot around the pool during the weekend.
Just accross from Fort road are some very good options along Meyer road. Those are older blocks which will deliver more space.
When you reach Amber road, you'll find the newer condos which are smaller but with brilliant facilities.
Typically a 3 bedroom 1500sqft in a place like the seaview or the Esta (to name 2 of the more popular new condos) are about $5-6k.

And there are lots of houses on the east coast if you have closer to 10k.

It is about 10mn back into the CBD if you stick to district 15 (up to Tanjong Katong)

Thanks again. We'll have a better idea of timing/location etc during this week, so I'll look up the areas suggested, and no doubt be back with an update

Big meeting at DH's office today, and it's now looking very likely to go ahead - feel quite excited! But daunted...

We need to line up a school as if it's going to happen it's almost definite we'll be going during the next school year.

I've sent you a CAT message Slim, so grateful for any details you can send. Thanks for all your help, everyone.