Expatriate News

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As many of you know, the fiscal year ends July 31st, meaning all expense accounts need to be submitted no later than July 10th to make the July 15th deadline, 2009. Expenses received after July 15, 2009 can only be reimbursed with special permission from David Greg, the CFO.

Insurance Update

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010 WE ARE IMPLEMENTING A NEW INT'L MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROGRAM PLEASE SEE THE FULL STORY ON THIS PAGE FOR DETAILS.

20011-2012 Expatriate Policy Manual and Expatriate Employee Handbook.

The expatriate policy manual and expatriate handbook published and revised every February is no longer available in paper format, but instead will be posted here in PDF.

Open Enrollment

This year's open enrollment period will be August 15th to October 1. As an expatriate the open enrollment process works differently from domestic employees and what you need to know is outlined in this section below.

Expatriates that do not respond to open enrollment will keep the same benefits they had in the prior year, but all employees will be moved into the new international medical program (described below).

 

New International Medical Plan

Effective 1/1/2012

The CIGNA International medical program will replace the Humana national PPO program for all expatriates on January 1, 2010.  In addition, those still enrolled with Blue Cross of California's indemnity plan while living outside of the country will also be moved over to the CIGNA International  medical program on January 1st.  If you are currently on expatriate assignment there is nothing you need to do, and you will automatically be enrolled into the new international program for medical and dental on January 1, 2010. You will be receiving a new medical ID card and plan booklet by December 1, 2011.

The Expatriate Handbook is no longer available in print

Welcome International Field Staff:

This site was built for our international assignees (expatriates) working outside of their home country anywhere in the world including a special section for foreign nationals working in the U.S. Almost everything you will ever need to know about your assignment are contained in these pages and our on-line expatriate handbook.

We invest in the success of our international assignees. The ABC Expatriate Resource Center in Kansas City has created this website as a single resource for everything you will need to know about your expatriate assignment. Please review the FAQ section often as it will be updated as common questions are presented from the field.

Make this website your home page during your expatriate assignment and access your updated expatriate handbook regularly.

We ask that you make this website your homepage during your international assignment and check the News tab on the left often. It will serve as a reminder on important items and upcoming events that will affect most of you. If you are traveling and unable to access email, you can always use the contact form on this website to send an urgent message that can be forwarded to anyone in the company.

Please review the Expatriate Policy and Procedures manual at least once a year. It spells out exactly what the company is provided during your expatriate assignment and what your own responsibilities are regarding expenses and insurance during your international assignment. For example, it is your responsibility to make sure you secure personal property and liability insurance for you and your family before your international assignment.

Effective January 1, 2012 we are moving to a new international medical program available to all full time expatriates

The CIGNA International medical program will replace the Humana national PPO program for all expatriates on January 1, 2010.  In addition, those still enrolled with Blue Cross of California's indemnity plan while living outside of the country will also be moved over to the CIGNA International  medical program on January 1st.  If you are currently on expatriate assignment there is nothing you need to do, and you will automatically be enrolled into the new international program for medical and dental on January 1, 2010. You will be receiving a new medical ID card and plan booklet by December 1, 2009.

Fiscal Year End Expense Due July 1, 2012

All expatriate field staff need to submit year end expense on or before July 1, 2009. Expenses that are not submitted by this date will need to be personally approved by the CFO, and may not be considered for reimbursement.

Of course, always save copies of all receipt and expenses in your office until you receive payment in full for the prior month's expenses. Once you have been adequately reimbursed you no longer have to save receipts. Receipts for expenses will automatically be forwarded to the Global Tax Network, who processes your host and home country tax obligations for us.

Annual Sales Meeting Scheduled for November 4-8, 2012 in Munich Germany.

All international field staff in sales and account management will attend the annual sales meeting in Germany. Corporate travel has set aside hotel rooms which will be paid on the corporate expense account. Do not book a room yourself as the group will be staying on the same floor of the hotel to facilitate meetings.

For most of you, please arrive the evening before because there is a very important meeting at 11:00 a.m. on the first day and the Chairman and CEO are attending. If your connections are tight, please do not plan to fly in the morning of the meeting, but instead come in the day before. Note, the expatraite handbook is no longer available in hard copy but only available on-line.