Dealing with Relocation Blues: Taking a Balanced Decision

A. Nagaraj Subbarao; Shweta Kaur Khalsa

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Dealing with Relocation Blues: Taking a Balanced Decision

A. Nagaraj Subbarao and Shweta Kaur Khalsa

Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru, India

Volume 17: 2024, pp. 63-70; ABSTRACT

With globalization, many executives in India now have opportunities to relocate to foreign countries. While such moves offer significant career opportunities, they also introduce unique personal and familial challenges. This case study throws light upon the personal and professional conflicts faced by Sunil Joshi, an executive with TechSolve Inc., and explores the implications on expatriate family life. While Sunil tackles a demanding job with frequent travel, his wife Sukanya grapples with isolation and depression. Their son Anand, meanwhile, has trouble in his new US school. The case study delves into the cultural and emotional hurdles of the expatriate family life, exploring its impact on internal family dynamics and individual psychological wellbeing. Sunil is torn between personal aspirations and family responsibilities. His dilemma is whether to prioritize his family’s happiness by returning to India or remain in the US. This case study highlights relocation management, and the delicate balance between career aspirations and familial obligations. It also emphasizes the critical role of the “trailing spouse”, in the family’s adjustment process.

Keywords: cultural differences, work-life balance, dilemma, expatriate support.