Global benefits strategies must be flexible enough to reflect local cultures, said Debra Corey, senior director compensation and benefits for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Quintiles. This could result in some unusual benefits, she said. In India, for example, employers provided an allowance for staff to buy curtains, while Canadian staff have massages funded by private medical insurance.
Corey said a number of global trends were impacting on international reward. "The challenge we have with globalisation is: how do we balance everything?"