Some people may not be too happy with where they are living and may be thinking about moving to Europe. Europe can be a great place to move to. Many countries in Europe have amazing health care. They also have more relaxed work environments. Other people might be interested in the variety or cultures in close proximity.

People are moving to Europe for a variety of reasons. One of the most important issues that make people move to Europe is health care. America has a flawed health care system and everyone is very aware of it. If you cannot afford to pay for your health care then you are out of luck. It is a system that only benefits the rich and leaves the poor to suffer and often die. People get stuck in bad situations too. If you are sick and have no insurance then you won’t get treated. If you are living from paycheck to paycheck and you have no insurance, and you get sick, then you are up a creak without a panel. This affects so many people in America it is easy to see why so many are moving to Europe.

Many people are also moving to Europe for better jobs. Most jobs in Europe are not just better meaning that they pay more or are just nicer jobs to work. Many jobs also just have better work packages. Europeans in general have more vacation time, more sick time and better benefits packages. It really shows through their society as well. People are in general less stressed out and even healthier than in countries that work their people to the bone. It is even apparent in their children’s lives. Children go into school much later in the day. They also are given lunch breaks long enough to allow them to return home for lunch. Is it any wonder that most European children are doing so well academically as compared to other countries? For most people that is reason enough for moving to Europe.

One of the most attractive things about Europe is the closeness to lots of other countries. Europe is so diverse in such a small area. This can be very attractive to people that are looking to diversify their lives. Moving to Europe is a great way to get exposed to all sorts of different people with different points of view. One can easily in just one-day travel from England to France, to Germany, to Poland. The whole time one is experiencing different languages, different foods and different customs. Moving to Europe can be a great way to expose not only oneself to many cultures and histories but also a great way to educate ones children. There is something to be said about exposing your children to a world environment. This type of exposure can be very rewarding and can in the future make your child a more valuable employee.

By: Nicole Hedrick

Far too many of our executive clients come to us both in the middle of a career transition and in middle of a divorce. They rarely start the divorce proceedings. Sometimes, when the money is gone, so is the spouse. For the (mostly men) who face this double whammy of job loss and divorce, it is devastating. But there are things that can be done to preserve a marriage through career transition. Here are a few tips.

1). Don’t close off your feelings. We buy Kleenex by the case to keep in our office to be used by people who are breaking down and crying over the stress and loss of identity that has occurred in losing their jobs.

But this is, too often, hidden from their loved ones. Rather than opening up, many people just shut down. This leads to increased alienation and a feeling on the part of the spouse of being unloved. That, of course, leads to divorce.

2). Talk about the situation with your family. Most people feel that it is their responsibility alone to produce money for the family. But this is not the way families are supposed to work. Remember that “for richer or for poorer” in the marriage vows? Your family should be there for you whether you’re a walking wallet or not right now.

This requires that you open up and actually talk to them about the situation. Many people are surprised at how supportive their families are once they understand the situation. Be very realistic about the money situation so that everyone understands that things can’t just go on as if you were still employed.

3). Listen openly to your spouse’s concerns. It is easy to be defensive when a spouse talks about your career hunt. Don’t be. Try to hear the real concern behind what is being said and respond to that. It is difficult when your ego is already battered. But it is also necessary.

4). Don’t put the burden all on your spouse. Often, when one partner is the only one bringing in money, he or she can feel overwhelmed. This can lead to marital problems. Do what you can to take some things off of the still-working partner, such as spending some time to clean the house and, if you don’t have networking meetings or an interview, picking up the kids from events that your spouse would ordinarily have to take care of.

5). Show appreciation for your spouse. Tensions can run high during unemployment. Try to be very clear that your spouse is not responsible. Let your spouse know at least daily how much you appreciate and love him or her, and how important he or she is to you, especially during this time. One rose in a bud vase doesn’t cost much. But it lets someone who is standing by you know that you notice and are grateful for such a great person in your life.

6). Get counseling as needed. While it might seem to be an expenditure you can’t afford, you also can’t afford to lose your marriage. If things are rough, find a qualified marriage counselor to help you through this time. And don’t discount counseling for yourself, either. Depression and anxiety disorder are common among those who have lost their jobs. They can be treated.

7). Be realistic about money. Sit down with your spouse and financial advisor and know your financial situation. Spend money on things to help with your search, but look for every way possible to cut down on monthly expenditures. Know how long a “runway” you have before you crash and burn. You might be pleasantly surprised.

8). Recognize that the problems didn’t come overnight. A termination or lay-off is sometimes just the last straw in an already troubled marriage. See this time as a time to really work on the issues that are making your marriage troubled, and resolve them.

In the end, some marriages just won’t work out. This is especially difficult when there is already job loss. Try everything possible to keep your marriage, just as you did on your job. But recognize that it takes two to make a marriage work. Just like the layoff it may be beyond your control. You’ll get through it, one way or another, and laugh and live again.

By: John Heckers