So just got my IC&S after the annual May $hitogram from TMO (can’t believe they call themselves Talent Management Organization as all they do is cut benefits)
What did TMO actually do to the IC&S allowance for expats as their email is absolute useless. Did they include a new benchmarking process to drive the ‘basket of goods’ down. It’s not worth being an expat now. I’m
Good for you by pulling the plug.
Taking the loss this year to minimize family upheaval. But this BS also has me starting to look for another job, either in my host location or when I return. Don’t know if I’ll execute, but I’ll have some options lined up. TMO says they have a competitive package? Let’s see how it really stands-up in the job market.
I’m extremely glad to be going home, I took control and just pulled the plug on my assignment, for several reasons including the cr-ppy package and BS that HR / TMO spewed every time you challenged a reduction. There is zero reason to accept an assignment unless you are desperate, don’t do it.
And I confirm on the way home you get almost no support, well 7 days car hire is what I’m getting.
Wow, TMO actually talked to you? Like an ‘Update’….as in a pre-scheduled meeting to which you were invited? You must be carrying more weight than I.
Is anyone in the company (other than expats) aware of the weight TMO hangs over employees heads and the anxiety these cuts create…..not to mention the animosity, distrust, frustration etc etc? You stop your life, uproot your family, and move across the world just to realize you somehow took a pay cut in the process….and every May TMO looks to trim more.
The TMO update was apparently useless. They explained that they have used a benchmark to justify lower the market rate.
Thinking about going back home? Ha! They have now removed the benefit for that too.
Seriously though…..that appears the only course of action after a certain point.
The cost of living adjustment is IC&S - C&S. But then you get into the details and see that IC&S appears to be based on the midpoint of your CL while C&S is based on your actual salary. Now extrapolate what happens when your salary exceeds your CL midpoint AND the locational difference is also cut. Bye-bye COLA adjustment apparently. How does that make any sense?
It feels like every May is a new flavor of pain.
Thank you for mentioning this. Took a HUGE hit to my cost of living adjustment. TMO explanations are inadequate at best. Took a breakeven package into losing territory.
Anyone else challenging this?
Apparently there are meetings for Supervisors coming so they can explain the changes
TMO hates expat and love TG. I just hope the next HR VP actually likes people vs demonising them.
TMO job is to Talent Manage people out of ExxonMobil by implementing Performance improvement plans on people who don’t deserve it and cutting costs. They are part of the plan to reduce people. Why doesn’t ExxonMobil do the decent thing and offer redundancy packages or remove the pension handcuffs for those 55 so they don’t lose money before they hit 60. Lots of folks would be out the door.
Not happy with the communications - Basically telling you something without telling you nothing. I have no idea why the allowance go down so much; it seems like a structural change; I had a huge impact of around 20% down versus prior year on my IC&S. Makes no sense when it does cost less for food in my expat country. It’s just rocketed for costs in the last few years
Seems a lot of expat assignments are going to BTC employees.
The basket of goods price went down considerably because the basket no longer includes meat.
We work for the 1 company that expects you to pay for your own expat assignment!!
Seriously though, most expat assignments nowadays are net money losers.
TMO is located in a third world country. They secretly hate expats. Maybe not even secretly... I'm sure they outright hate expats.
Its hard to have perspective on first world costs of living when your local government fixes the price of everything.
thinking about going back home.
They're