The Challenge of Working for Americans: Perspectives of an International Workforce

Internationalization is now a necessity for American organizations, leading to unprecedented cultural exchanges in multinational employers. Much has been written about Americans working abroad, but how do non-Americans feel about working for Americans? To answer this question, Bond Benton directly surveyed nearly 600 Foreign Service Nationals working for the US State Department. These State Department employees speak to the perceptions of non-Americans working in an overtly American environment. This unprecedented work offers insights that are enlightening, challenging, and occasionally shocking. Researchers, practitioners, students, and those interested in understanding America's place in the world can all consider what happens when those who are 'exceptional' become those who are "the other."