Trailing Spouse getting low ball offers

[cdnxpatq]

Is it true that once they get you over there, your other half who is seeking work should expect to get low ball offers even if they apply for the exact same position the initial spouse came over for?

Thats what I'm hearing from a couple of friends living there but wanted to get a wide audience response.

Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yep. You see, the primary expat is the one that the company is paying for. The trailing spouse, well, as all the expats costs are theoretically taken care of by the initial contract, it means the secondary can work for local salary as there are NO expat costs to take into consideration. It's a take it or leave it proposition. You really don't have too much room to negotiate as the employer knows you won't starve to death and also know that if the family unit had actually talked things out before accepting the first position, that the possibility of not finding a job at all for the spouse was a definite possibility.

Maybe shouldn't be looked at that way, but at the end of the day it's do you need them or do they need you. If it's the latter they maybe you have room to negotiate.