Impacts on Global Mobility Due to COVID Pandemic

Global Mobility is a new way for “business as usual.” We have always lived in a world where freedom of movement was the general practice of individuals. The arrangement of business moves and opportunities to work abroad and travel abroad for the assignment was part of “business as usual.”?But since 2020, COVID-19 had pulled the handbrake on the worldwide movement of the people and brought unforeseen challenges for global mobility. Most of the companies are not ready for this sudden halt nor were they prepared for the impact of the crises. Companies are laying emphasis on searching where their people are and what is necessary to protect them and their families. This sounds simple enough. However, many companies do not have technologies in place, which can determine the location of employees. And this is crucial because the measures required to protect them are changing each day as the conditions and emergency protocols evolve in their respective countries or regions.

Here we will discuss global mobility impact post COVID-19

Supply Chain Issues

It is not hyperbole to depict that supply chain disruptions are nothing short of historic. According to the Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, the recent months were the worst for the supply chain pressure.?Everything from groceries to furniture to electronics is facing shortages and delays in delivery and unfortunately for many going on international assignments, their belongings are no exception.

War for Talent

If the researches like LinkedIn’s recent Global Talent Trends 2022 are any indication, employees across the globe have increasingly opined about what they expect from their present employers. What’s more, is that they are quick to find a new position if they are not comfortable with the present ones. In this way, companies are finding themselves in the precarious situation of losing the top talents and are unable to fill those roles with other candidates.

With an immense rise in digital nomads, workers aren’t necessarily confined to the employment opportunities in the location where they live. If not, organizations are realizing how essential it is to listen to employees and adapt job responsibilities, benefits – even their entire culture – to accommodate this shift in worker expectations. For instance: From this period, Japan has been popular for its demanding work culture. Since the pandemic, Japan Government and Companies have taken steps to change this for the sake of workers’ health and economy.

Growing Inflation

Inflation concerns are common in countries across the globe. Among the many magnitudes of inflation is a higher cost of living in those countries affected. Cost of living is a crucial factor when defining overall compensation and benefits for any position. If a company hasn’t re-evaluated the cost of living in cities where it has international assignments, it could be putting employees in a difficult situation of not earning enough to comfortably live abroad.

Some experts note that not all the factors contributing to the global inflations are temporary ones. It may be erstwhile before the economic factors like cost of living even out, which will force global organizations to closely eye varying inflation rates for the indefinite future.

For the past two years, the pandemic has obstructed the global mobility space in insightful ways. The year ahead looks to be no different as goods shortages, public safety measures, and shifting working preferences steer the landscape.