Anonymous
09/15/2025 12:00
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
That's why im bummed and do feel this is a bait and switch
Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:25
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This seems like something that you should have asked about before you got to this stage in the process if it was that important to you.
The role was presented to me as being based in Switzerland. Throughout the interview process, the assumption was Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they are selling it as a "congrats you dont have to relocate and get to work remote."
Well, then say no. If you're already employed and reasonably happy, and the main draw was being an expat in Switzerland, then why switch? I'm not sure about your company, but at many of them--expats get housing benefits, benefits for children's private school, travel allowances etc.--all things that the company wouldn't have to pay for you as a remote worker.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:23
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This seems like something that you should have asked about before you got to this stage in the process if it was that important to you.
The role was presented to me as being based in Switzerland. Throughout the interview process, the assumption was Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they are selling it as a "congrats you dont have to relocate and get to work remote."
That’s because they ran the numbers, and realized that an expat package would cost them anywhere from $1.5 to 4.5 million per year due to tax equalization housing schooling and COLA depending on the size of your family. So they decided they can have the role sit in the US as a more economical alternative. You’re a senior director OP, you know that business decisions can change anytime.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 11:18
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My view - expatriation to Switzerland is very expensive. They are test driving you with the remote position. You will be in a prime position to apply for subsequent opportunities to go to move to Switzerland for the parent company.
The tax situation as an American in Switzerland is brutal. You must pay full taxes in Switzerland (federal + canton + locality + Pillar 1+2 pensions), then figure out what you owe to the US after the foreign income exclusions. If you have a spouse, they cannot work remotely from Switzerland for their US employer without trigger Swiss taxes.
With my expat Swiss package, they paid for a lot of stuff but I was on my own when it came to Swiss + US tax compliance. They set me up with a meeting with E&Y in Zurich and they quoted me $11K CHF to get my taxes filed for both Swiss and US governments.
What they are offering right now - frequent travel to Switzerland on the company dime - is kind of the best of both worlds. You can spend time in Switzerland before and after work, or bring the family along for holidays.
Also get it in writing that they must pay for business class flights to Switzerland when you travel.
This would be in the travel policy. Please. It’s a multinational corporation.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:21
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:My view - expatriation to Switzerland is very expensive. They are test driving you with the remote position. You will be in a prime position to apply for subsequent opportunities to go to move to Switzerland for the parent company.
The tax situation as an American in Switzerland is brutal. You must pay full taxes in Switzerland (federal + canton + locality + Pillar 1+2 pensions), then figure out what you owe to the US after the foreign income exclusions. If you have a spouse, they cannot work remotely from Switzerland for their US employer without trigger Swiss taxes.
With my expat Swiss package, they paid for a lot of stuff but I was on my own when it came to Swiss + US tax compliance. They set me up with a meeting with E&Y in Zurich and they quoted me $11K CHF to get my taxes filed for both Swiss and US governments.
What they are offering right now - frequent travel to Switzerland on the company dime - is kind of the best of both worlds. You can spend time in Switzerland before and after work, or bring the family along for holidays.
Also get it in writing that they must pay for business class flights to Switzerland when you travel.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:20
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This seems like something that you should have asked about before you got to this stage in the process if it was that important to you.
The role was presented to me as being based in Switzerland. Throughout the interview process, the assumption was Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they are selling it as a "congrats you dont have to relocate and get to work remote."
I mean, the simplest thing is to tell them that there must have been a misunderstanding in the process because your interest in the job was predicated on the role being located in Switzerland and that, given the different circumstances of the actual job (no relocation, regular transatlantic travel, etc), you no longer think it's a fit.
Unless you want the job either way. In which case... congrats to the company on successfully orchestrating a bait and switch.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:20
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Proceed with caution.
This is a competitor to where you are working now. I would be very suspicious that they may just want to drain your brain of industry info and then toss you aside when they have what they want. Thus, they can do that remotely.
They don't want to relocate you, and your family, because it wouldn't be a good look for the corporate image to uproot a family, kids and then dump the employee.
This is a competitor to where you are working now. I would be very suspicious that they may just want to drain your brain of industry info and then toss you aside when they have what they want. Thus, they can do that remotely.
They don't want to relocate you, and your family, because it wouldn't be a good look for the corporate image to uproot a family, kids and then dump the employee.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:19
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
My view - expatriation to Switzerland is very expensive. They are test driving you with the remote position. You will be in a prime position to apply for subsequent opportunities to go to move to Switzerland for the parent company.
The tax situation as an American in Switzerland is brutal. You must pay full taxes in Switzerland (federal + canton + locality + Pillar 1+2 pensions), then figure out what you owe to the US after the foreign income exclusions. If you have a spouse, they cannot work remotely from Switzerland for their US employer without trigger Swiss taxes.
With my expat Swiss package, they paid for a lot of stuff but I was on my own when it came to Swiss + US tax compliance. They set me up with a meeting with E&Y in Zurich and they quoted me $11K CHF to get my taxes filed for both Swiss and US governments.
What they are offering right now - frequent travel to Switzerland on the company dime - is kind of the best of both worlds. You can spend time in Switzerland before and after work, or bring the family along for holidays.
The tax situation as an American in Switzerland is brutal. You must pay full taxes in Switzerland (federal + canton + locality + Pillar 1+2 pensions), then figure out what you owe to the US after the foreign income exclusions. If you have a spouse, they cannot work remotely from Switzerland for their US employer without trigger Swiss taxes.
With my expat Swiss package, they paid for a lot of stuff but I was on my own when it came to Swiss + US tax compliance. They set me up with a meeting with E&Y in Zurich and they quoted me $11K CHF to get my taxes filed for both Swiss and US governments.
What they are offering right now - frequent travel to Switzerland on the company dime - is kind of the best of both worlds. You can spend time in Switzerland before and after work, or bring the family along for holidays.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:13
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:Does the role require you to be in the U.S. (because they need you to meet with people in the country, etc.)? If not, can you offer to absorb some of the relocation costs yourself?
I think it does, but the team and the contacts are in Switzerland. i dont want to absorb the cost of the relocation myself as I was told it was included when I was asked to apply
Anonymous
09/15/2025 09:12
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Anonymous wrote:This seems like something that you should have asked about before you got to this stage in the process if it was that important to you.
The role was presented to me as being based in Switzerland. Throughout the interview process, the assumption was Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they are selling it as a "congrats you dont have to relocate and get to work remote."
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:23
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
I don’t think you understand how expats assignments work for the company providing them.
There is zero chance you are getting an expat package here.
There is zero chance you are getting an expat package here.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:13
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
This seems like something that you should have asked about before you got to this stage in the process if it was that important to you.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 08:08
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Does the role require you to be in the U.S. (because they need you to meet with people in the country, etc.)? If not, can you offer to absorb some of the relocation costs yourself?
Anonymous
09/15/2025 07:06
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
blessing in disguise.
Anonymous
09/15/2025 07:05
Subject: Help me decide/negotiate expatriation
Senior director here for a large multinational. I was recruited by an in house recruiter for a competitor on linkedin for a role in Switzerland so I went for the interview. Team is all
in Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they tell me that I am to be US based remote and occasionally go to Switzerland.
This disappointed me very much because part of the allure of the job was expatriation. I feel this is a bait and switch.
Hiring mgr tells me that while there is no guarantee but that there are ways for a transfer in role. He then reiterated the work can be done remotely with frequent transatlantic visits.
Anyone have advice?
in Switzerland. Now at offer stage, they tell me that I am to be US based remote and occasionally go to Switzerland.
This disappointed me very much because part of the allure of the job was expatriation. I feel this is a bait and switch.
Hiring mgr tells me that while there is no guarantee but that there are ways for a transfer in role. He then reiterated the work can be done remotely with frequent transatlantic visits.
Anyone have advice?