John Thomson was not given a generous housing allowance.

What might be some reasons for this? Discuss the factors to consider when deciding on a compensation package for global employees.

“Good morning, Mr. Thomson!”

“Good morning, Lee! Please, call me John. Mr. Thomson is my father. Where are you off to this early in the morning?”

“Oh, I’m going for a Tai-chi session at the community club. Would you like to join me, Mr. Thomson?”

“I would love to!”

“Are you settling in well, Mr. Thomson? I was surprised to find a Westerner as my neighbor when you moved in. Don’t you much prefer to live in a condominium than to live in a public housing flat?”

“I’m not given a generous housing allowance. But I would have chosen to live in a public housing flat anyway, because I wanted to experience life in Singapore’s heartland. I’m settling in very well. My HR department put me through a comprehensive orientation program to help my family and me appreciate the cultural differences and anticipate any difficulties we might face in adapting to a new culture. With the help of my HR department, my wife has even gotten a new job teaching at a nearby preschool. It’s been wonderful so far. Everybody here is friendly and makes us feel very welcome.