Samantha O’Donovan: How to help expat employees beat the six-month homesickness slump

When staff members take the leap to work for a period abroad, it’s not uncommon for them to develop feelings of homesickness – a longing for the familiarity of home, wherever in the world that may be.

The six-month slump is commonly reported by many expats; when the initial excitement and novelty has worn off, it’s normal to start missing the home comforts; friends and family, the cultural norms, even the weather. This period can be particularly challenging during certain seasons, such as summer, when the heightened awareness of family gatherings and traditional events back home can exacerbate feelings of homesickness. Studies on seasonal affective disorders [1](SAD) suggest that different seasons can significantly affect mood and well-being, with summer often bringing a sense of longing for missed family traditions and gatherings.

Homesickness is the emotional distress we all feel when we’re away from home in a new or unfamiliar environment, and it can make the transition into a new culture feel tricky. Academic research has shown that homesickness has knock-on effects on both non-native employees and the organisations they work in; with detrimental impacts to individual wellbeing and workplace commitment[i].

Drawing on my years of experience in Human Resources at global companies, I’m sharing strategies for people managers to help their staff overcome homesickness—an unwelcome guest on the journey of any international employee.

Homesickness is normal

Firstly, we must stress to employees that feelings of homesickness are completely normal. It can feel isolating, when what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience can begin to feel confusing and uncertain, so it’s completely normal to feel conflicted. I’d say it isn’t a real expat experience without some period of homesickness.

Lots of overseas work placements are very competitive, so there can be pressure on employees to enjoy and make the most of every moment. These emotions brought on by homesickness can even make them feel ungrateful for the opportunity they’ve earned, so it’s key for us to remind our international employees that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. 

Help them build a routine that feels familiar

 A new country brings a new culture of workplace expectations. In many countries in Asia, and in America, working overtime is considered a norm, whilst in lots of European countries there are strict rules about logging off at the end of the working day[ii]. Some countries operate in a completely flat model of hierarchy, whereas others have very regimented structures of rank when it comes to decision making. It can be a shock for expats to learn a new way of working they’ve never experienced before.

A way to combat this is by creating familiarity. Encourage expat team members to cultivate the habits that they practiced at home. Did they usually go to the gym at home before work, and could they do this again in their new locale? Building routines based on the things they enjoyed at home can help expats to lessen feelings of unfamiliarity.

Help them find time to catch up

If expats are working full time and starting the day five hours before everyone they know at home, it can soon become difficult for them to find the time to talk and catch up with their loved ones. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness, when all you’d like is to chat to someone from home, but they’re all fast asleep whilst you’re working away.

Time differences can make it difficult to stay in touch, but helping employees to figure out a set arrangement can help. This may be understanding that for your employee to be their happiest and most engaged self, they might need to take time out of the working day to call home.  Recommend they block that time out in their diary on a regular basis to give them something to look forward to. Having this planned time also means expats aren’t constantly feeling the pressure to call home, which could also exacerbate feelings of homesickness.

Help them build a community 

It can be isolating to live somewhere new and have no one to reminisce with about fond memories or even everyday moments, especially if there are language barriers in your new home. It can feel hard for expats to immerse themselves into a new culture and find their new social group. This can feel even more difficult if you work remotely.

In my experience, finding companions who are in a similar situation can help expats manage their feelings of homesickness massively. Even if they aren’t from the same country, connecting with people who have a shared experience can break down those feelings of isolation. Expat Facebook groups and co-working spaces are great examples of spaces where expats can meet likeminded individuals, so it’s useful to do your research and have a couple of recommendations up your sleeve.

For those seeking more ways to connect, you could also recommend a sports club, volunteering project, or a new hobby based on how well you know their interests. Even better if this hobby is something social and local as it will help new expats find a community and further immerse themselves in their new environment.  Expats can also connect with other groups of expats via their local embassy to help build new relationships and get connected with likeminded people.

It’s important to remind expats that homesickness won’t last forever, and a six-month slump doesn’t mean your work placement isn’t right for them. Lapses in confidence are a normal part of starting a new life far from home. We can help expats best by encouraging them to recognise that what they’re doing is a brave and testing experience, so they should allow themselves time to process these emotions and know the uncertainness will settle eventually. 

Let them know they’re not alone

While these tips will help you support expats through their feelings of homesickness and get past the six-month slump, managing mental health in the workplace should never be a journey restricted to individuals and their managers.

Organisations have a responsibility to support their staff members who leave their home country to fulfil assignments. They can do this through a combination of mindful corporate culture and peer support, best practice people management, and comprehensive health insurance to provide expert help when it’s needed. Data from our recent Mind Health Report shows that 40% of non-natives would like their company to provide an external consultation service or appoint an external specialist to strengthen the available mind health support.

AXA – Global Healthcare provides dedicated healthcare insurance for expats working anywhere in the world, encompassing multilingual physical and mental health support, and  24/7 access to a virtual doctor.

Mental health symptoms and their causes, like homesickness, are not a subject to brush under the carpet. By listening, communicating, and empowering the right actions, expats, their managers, and their employers, can work together to support and preserve good mind health across the globe.

Footnotes

[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-affective-disorders

ii https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245879/

ii https://cms.lifeintelligencegroup.com/blog/different-work-cultures-around-the-world