Recent research produced by GMAC Global Relocation Services and the National Trade Council shows that 21% percent of expatriate employees leave their companies in the midst of international assignments while another 23% do so within a year of returning from one. Yet, global mobility continues to be on the increase.

Family issues are the primary reason why international assignments are declined and are often a significant cause of failure in an international assignment. In this month?s issue, featuring an interview with Yvonne McNulty , we discuss some of the major issues that confront trailing spouses going on an international assignment.

The trailing spouse is defined as ‘the person in a relationship, who gives up his/her job in order to follow the other person to a new location where that person has found employment.’

Read excerpts from an interview with her at

here