When organisations prepare employees for an international assignment, focus often falls on logistics, compliance and workplace readiness. Yet according to a recent study by AXA Global Healthcare – highlighted by ITIJ – the most decisive factor for successful postings lies much closer to home: the wellbeing of the employee’s family.
As global mobility continues to rise across Europe, companies are rediscovering an old truth – when families feel safe, informed and supported, employees thrive. And when they don’t, even the most carefully planned assignments can become derailed.
At Travel Support Europe, these findings resonate strongly with our experience. Across thousands of medical and travel assistance cases handled every year, we see how fast, reliable support in unexpected situations directly reduces stress – not just for the person abroad, but also for those waiting anxiously at home.
Why family wellbeing matters more than ever
AXA’s research highlights a clear pattern: employees are more likely to succeed in overseas assignments when It’s easy to focus on logistics, contracts and job readiness when preparing someone for an international assignment. But what really determines long-term success may be far more personal.
As highlighted in a recent article from ITIJ, AXA Global Healthcare’s research points to a clear pattern: employees are significantly more likely to succeed abroad when their families feel safe, supported and informed — particularly when it comes to access to healthcare.
For families relocating within Europe, common challenges include:
- Navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system
- Uncertainty in emergency situations
- Language or cultural barriers
- Lack of local contacts or trusted providers
- Concerns about safety when travelling or living abroad
These stressors build up. And when something goes wrong — a sudden illness, an accident, or a need for urgent care — the emotional toll can ripple through the entire family.
This is where well-coordinated medical and travel assistance plays a vital role.
Local knowledge makes global mobility more resilient
Travel Support Europe operates with a simple principle: every country is unique, and every case deserves local expertise. With more than 15 years of experience and a dense network of medical providers across Europe, our teams help bridge the gap between global mobility planning and real-life situations on the ground.
Our close coordination ensures:
- Immediate access to doctors, specialists, clinics and hospitals
- Trusted healthcare partners across even remote regions
- Clear communication regardless of language or culture
- Low stress for families, knowing help is only a phone call away
- Fast case resolution, keeping the employee focused on their assignment
As AXA’s research suggests, this sense of safety – for both the individual and their loved ones – has measurable impact on assignment success.
Reducing uncertainty when the unexpected happens
Family members may not be physically present during a medical emergency, but the emotional burden can be heavy. Questions like “Who is helping my partner?” or “Are they getting the right medical care?” are common – and completely natural. Our role is to remove these uncertainties.
With 24/7 operations, an 8-second average phone response time, and service-minded coordinators who stay with each case until it’s resolved, Travel Support Europe helps families feel reassured, informed and supported throughout the entire process.
Whether it involves:
- Arranging medical appointments
- Coordinating emergency care
- Organising transportation or repatriation
- Providing updates to employers or insurers
– the goal remains the same: no one is left behind – and no family is left in the dark.
A shared responsibility for successful assignments
AXA’s findings underline something both simple and profound: global mobility succeeds when people feel secure.
This places new emphasis on the role of employers, insurers and assistance partners in creating the right safety net around their travelling or relocated staff.
Support services are no longer just a practical requirement – they are a strategic component of talent retention, employee wellbeing and organisational resilience.
Strong family support starts with strong local assistance
For companies with international staff across Europe, the message is clear: investing in the right support structure pays off.
Reliable, localised medical and travel assistance reduces stress for employees and their families. And this, in turn, increases the success rate of international assignments.
As one of Europe’s most locally grounded assistance networks, Travel Support Europe is proud to contribute to that sense of security – ensuring that wherever an employee is posted, their family knows they are in safe hands.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about resolving an incident. It’s about giving families the confidence to let their loved ones succeed abroad.
