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Holding the Fort AbroadThe podcast for expats with travelling partners Author: Rhoda Bangerter
Holding the Fort Abroad is the podcast for expats with travelling partners. Discover how families find creative ways to maintain relationships when one partner/parent works away more frequently, whilst the non-travelling parent juggles responsibilities at home amid their own pursuits. Through deep and often humorous conversations, my guests - experienced expats, therapists and researchers share their wisdom with us all. Even without a travelling partner, youll find valuable gifts here for your life abroad. Find out more... Language: en Genres: Places & Travel, Relationships, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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#83 People Care in Practice: Sustaining Family Wellbeing Business Travel
Episode 83
Monday, 17 November, 2025
Synopsis:Today’s episode is for anyone experiencing relationship strain due to frequent work travel or international assignments. My guest, Ian Orton, counsellor and founder of People Care Matters, has spent 35 years supporting professionals who work far from home and the families affected by these separations. We discuss how travel impacts connection, how distance can slowly create emotional drift, and how couples and families can intentionally maintain closeness even when time apart is unavoidable.I think frequent travel is a part of the whole deal with relief and development work and with other NGO work. There's often a huge amount of travel. And I've come across it where people have said that home is really an aeroplane seat, or it's on a train somewhere, or it's in the car traveling between places Key Takeaways:Performance at Work Is Often Linked to Home LifeDisrupted family relationships and stress from prolonged separations commonly impact work performance. Pastoral support and organizational care are vital when international work or frequent travel creates tension at home, affecting focus and well-being on the job. Recognizing this interplay helps organizations and individuals respond more compassionately and proactively.Frequent travel impacts everyone—be proactiveWhether you’re the one traveling or the partner holding things together at home, Ian highlighted that both sides face stress, and the drifting apart can happen without realizing it. He suggests annual reevaluations, prioritizing quality time, and even creative exercises to keep connections strong. Intentional Relationship Maintenance is essential is just as crucial in frequent travel scenarios as in long-term split-living.Reintegration Takes Planning and SkillReturning home after being away can upset established family routines and dynamics. Both partners should learn negotiation and communication skills to ease reintegration and avoid unnecessary conflict. Periodic check-ins and adjustments help families re-establish connection instead of feeling like intruders in their own homes.Organizational Support Goes Beyond the EmployeeEmployers should recognize the impact of travel/split assignments on non-employee family members. Offering resources, pastoral care, or flexibility acknowledges that spouses and children also need support. When leaders or HR notice decreased performance or well-being, addressing underlying family stresses is just as important as work-focused interventions.Trusted Advisers Offer Perspective and SupportCultivating honest relationships outside the immediate family – with peers, mentors, or experienced friends – provides invaluable perspective and accountability. Trusted advisers can help spot challenges early, offer practical wisdom, and keep families aligned with their values as contexts and needs shift over time.Contingency and Crisis Planning Is CrucialFamilies separated by work should actively plan for emergencies: legal documentation, guardianship, communication protocols, and scenario planning. This forward thinking reduces anxiety and ensures stability for children and spouses when unexpected events occur. Proactive conversations about “what if” scenarios help everyone feel safer and more prepared.Ian’s experience and honesty about his own journey serve as a valuable resource for all global professionals and families managing work life and family life when time away from family is routine.the organizational duty of care, it seems to me, can be to really encourage people to have those great conversations and to overcome some of those difficulties without going down the well worn pathways of meeting...
