How to improve repatriation management : Are motivations and expectations congruent between the company and expatriates?

Despite the growing recognition of its impact on successful expatriate management, repatriation continues to be a source of frustration to many human resources managers and the expatriates themselves. This study is designed to investigate underlying reasons for the failure of repatriation by comparing and contrasting the views of human resource managers and those of expatriates. Based on in‐depth interviews and mail surveys conducted in the USA, Scandinavia and the UK, this study concludes that discrepancy between the two parties in terms of motivations and expectations adversely influences the outcome of repatriation, often resulting in high attrition rates upon reentry to the home country. The paper also discusses similarities and differences between the US and Scandinavian respondents.