It is common for international firms to offer inter-office secondments. It is seen as part of their one-firm approach and helps to attract and develop their people.
On my visits to such attractive places as Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai though, I hear news that the secondees they receive are not always taking their work as seriously as these offices had hoped. ‘They come here for a holiday’ is a common complaint.
Whilst it is to be expected, and I would say encouraged, that people make the most of their leisure time whilst on secondment, they should be expected to work hard as well as play hard. Where they do not, the firm is usually as much to blame as the individual.
There is often insufficient attention given to briefing the individual before they leave their home office and insufficient report-back when they return. It should be made clear to the secondees that their performance in this period of their career will be just as visible as if they remained in their home-office. This should also be seen as part of a one-firm approach.
