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Abstract
Expatriate assignments continue to rise. They pose unique challenges to spirituality researchers. The employing organization reaches deeper into the employee’s private sphere in expatriate assignments than it does in domestic jobs by sponsoring, encouraging, perhaps even requiring the upheaval of an international move. In addition, the role and expression of spirituality differs from country to country. Not all countries are equally tolerant facing a deviation by expatriates from the expected expressions of spirituality. Therefore, spirituality research requires two extensions in expatriation studies: first, it must extend further into the private sphere of expatriates and their families; and second, it has to study spirituality at the cultural or societal level. This article discusses the major questions in expatriate assignments from a spirituality perspective. In doing so, it provides spirituality researchers with a number of research propositions to guide their forays into expatriate studies.
Notes
1. Questions of repatriation and re‐integration are beyond the scope of this article. For further reference, consult e.g. Suutari and Valimaa Citation2002; Suutari and Brewster Citation2003; Sánchez Vidal et al. Citation2007; Doherty et al. Citation2008.
2. All stories are based on information received by the author from some of the persons involved. Names are avoided to preserve anonymity.
3. Nicholson’s (Citation1984) theory of work role transitions describes situations of good and poor match between situational requirements and individual transition styles. With appropriate changes the theory could be applied to individual spirituality and its (mis)match with societal expectations.