Welcome to the latest issue of Mobility Minute, a newsletter created by Worldwide ERC®. This weekly newsletter will keep you up-to-date on news from and about the global workforce mobility industry.
What's happening?
Here's a quick glimpse of what you'll find in this week's Mobility Minute:
Moving Experts Discuss Evolving Industry Challenges
The Biden-Harris Administration’s Supply Chain Initiative
2021 EY Global Payroll Survey
Biden Urges Americans Back to the Office
Moving Experts Discuss Evolving Industry Challenges
Industry executives spoke at the ATA Moving & Storage Conference Annual Meeting earlier this week about how the pandemic has changed the moving industry in the short-term, and possibly in the long run. Panelists agreed that the nature of the moving and storage industry requires in-person interactions, but consumers increasingly expect the level of automation and customer service they receive from online sellers.
Why is this important:
Worldwide ERC® President Lynn Shotwell — a panelist for the discussion — also stressed the value of the moving sector’s work. Worldwide ERC®, in a survey, found 48% of its members want a single technology platform for all types of moves. That includes domestic and international as well as business trips, long-term assignments, and permanent relocations.
“They want it across all of their service providers,” Shotwell said. “They want at-a-glance to be able to see what’s happening with their shipments, what’s happening with the visa status, what’s happening with the home purchase or the corporate housing,” she said. “The challenge is that most of them admitted that they don’t have the funds to invest in getting the technology that they want.”
Shotwell said some are using specialized software platforms, while others have custom-built their own systems. There also is increasing interest in more traditional human resource information system platforms, she said, even though that sometimes requires complex data analysis and ready availability of the required data.
Worldwide ERC®Commends the Biden-Harris Administration’s Supply Chain Initiative
Worldwide ERC®, the professional association for workforce mobility and relocation professions, commends the Biden-Harris Administration for its launch of the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) pilot program and taking steps toward improving the long-term sustainability of the supply chain.
The launch of the FLOW pilot program comes as global unrest and fresh coronavirus outbreaks threaten to further destabilize a U.S. economy already reeling from shortages, skyrocketing inflation, and an overall drop in consumer morale.
Get the facts:
The initiative involves creating a “proof-of-concept information exchange” between 18 public and private organizations at various stages of the supply chain.
The Transportation Department is leading as “an honest broker and convener to bring supply chain stakeholders together.”
The program aims to “support businesses throughout the supply chain and improve the accuracy of information from end-to-end for a more resilient supply chain.”
Why is this important?
“Workforce mobility is critical to the operations of companies in the U.S., and, in turn, a resilient, efficient supply chain is vital to the movement of the employees and their families from the shipping of their household goods to building materials and furnishings for their new homes,” stated Worldwide ERC® President and CEO Lynn Shotwell. “Companies, and their employees being relocated around the U.S. and the world, rely on being able to settle into a new location in a timely manner,” said Shotwell. “We need to address both the immediate issues caused by recent events as well as the systematic long-term problems to the supply chain.”
Worldwide ERC® supports the FLOW initiative to increase communication and the exchange of information between different supply chain stakeholders, including Port Authorities which are often a key transfer point for household goods. “We thank the Administration for taking action through the FLOW pilot program to address the problems facing our supply chain and strengthen the movement of household goods,” said Shotwell.
Global Economic Snapshot
Like many private-sector forecasters, the Fed misjudged how strong American demand would be for goods and how long that demand would help to keep global supply chains running behind schedule, forces that have combined to push up consumer prices. — The New York Times
The price of oil fell on March 15 after spiking to its highest levels since 2008 as traders in the US and Europe sought to replace crude coming from Russia. The global energy market could be adjusting to the conflict in Ukraine. But if more countries join the US in banning Russian oil, prices will surge again, potentially to their highest point in decades, analysts say. — Quartz
The critical figure that looms over Japan’s second-hand car market is the monthly average price settled at the country’s largest manager of auctions, Used car System Solutions (USS). For the first time since comparable records began more than 20 years ago, the average price in February edged over the Y1m mark ($8,500) — a milestone that still seemed remote a year ago when the average was 20 percent lower. But for how long will it hold? — Financial Times
The U.S. doesn’t do much business with Russia — at least compared with more significant trading partners like China and Canada — but the chain-reaction effect of the war shows how there’s no escaping economic tumult in the event of seismic geopolitical instability. — Axios
2021 EY Global Payroll Survey
The 2021 edition of the EY Global Payroll Survey shows that organizations continue to deal with a multitude of challenges, both external and internal, to work towards achieving the payroll function of the future. The pandemic and external labor market trends have compounded these challenges, and payroll function’s ability to manage risk and secure the talent they need.
Get the facts:
58% of respondents report the top payroll priority stemming from the pandemic is multi-jurisdictional withholding and compliance.
67% of organizations have a formalized payroll strategy in place as of 2021, up from 61% in 2019.
59% of organizations will continue to have up to 25% of employees work remotely on a full-time basis.
Why Is This Important?
EY regularly sees that organizations with formal payroll strategies have a more efficient payroll operation. Simply stated, organizations with formal and documented payroll strategies built a more efficient payroll operation than those without a formal policy. Strategy has always been a crucial piece of payroll operations, but the pandemic’s effect on the global workforce has magnified the need for this strategy. This is especially true with regards to talent retention challenges and the reporting of local jurisdictions.
A growing number of organizations are now working towards formalizing their strategy and have started investing in building a comprehensive payroll strategy − showing organizations recognize the importance of having effective payroll operations. For organizations to reduce risk, increase compliance and build a leading operational model, creating and documenting an organization-wide formal payroll strategy is essential.
Our nation’s most powerful policymakers want remote workers back in the office all of a sudden. In his State of the Union address on March 1, President Biden told Americans that he wants everyone back in our physical workplaces to fill the country’s “great downtowns.”
A week earlier, Mayor Eric Adams commanded New Yorkers to get back to the office and out of their pajamas. And two days after Biden’s speech, Mayor London Breed in San Francisco announced a similar push for a return to office life, with cosigns from tech giants like Google, which announced it would end its voluntary work-from-home policy in April, and Microsoft, which already opened up last month. The threat that has been looming over the heads of WFH-lovers for almost a year is finally here: We’re actually going back to the office.
Get the facts:
At this point in the pandemic, 15.4% of Americans aged 16 and older worked from home at some point in January 2022.
Studies have shown remote workers have been more “productive” and happier while working from home.
Why is this important?
Biden called for people to get vaccinated, for children to get vaccinated, and for the production and distribution of antiviral pills to protect vulnerable people. He also forcefully called for the country to get back to work, to “fill our downtowns” and to keep schools open.
Still, unlike last July when he was close to declaring independence from the pandemic, only to be derailed by deadly variants, Biden said, “I cannot promise a new variant won’t come. But I can promise you we’ll do everything within our power to be ready if it does.”
Companies embracing diversity are reaping the benefits like never before. Read more in The CEO Magazine.
On Tap
The Impact of the Ukraine Crisis on Global Mobility: Register today for an online panel session that will provide insights on the impact of the Ukraine crisis on the global mobility industry, the people caught up in the crisis and the implications for current and future business in the region. led by Worldwide ERC® President Lynn Shotwell and featuring Jurga McClusky, Nino Nelissen, SGMS-T, and George Powdar. Click here to register.
Spring Virtual Conference, May 17-19, 2022. This conference was created for relocation professionals interested in current issues affecting the relocation industry. We will focus on sustainability, compliance, growth strategy, remote work, and much more. Join Lynn Shotwell, Worldwide ERC’s® President & CEO, and Carlos Flores, CEO of Sonesta hotels in a conversation about how Sonesta boldly seized opportunities and learn how global talent mobility has fueled their success. Sonesta hotels defied industry trends and grew from 80 to 1200 properties during the pandemic. Click here to register.
Registration Open for 2022 CRP® exam, the deadline is April 29, 2022. The deadline to apply to sit for the CRP® is April 29, 2022. This will be the ONLY opportunity to sit for the CRP® exam this year. The Worldwide ERC® Certified Relocation Professional (CRP®) designation is the only credential dedicated to identifying professionals that demonstrate a broad understanding of managing employee mobility within the United States. Learn more on Worldwide ERC®s.
Download the full whitepaper Resilience: The Art of Recovering from Setbacks. The white paper showcases Worldwide ERC® member experiences and served as a basis for this week’s webinar of the same name. Download here Worldwide ERC® Job Posting: Global Mobility & Location Strategy Manager with CloudBeds Job Posting: Broker Relationship Specialist with Dwellful
The Breakroom
In 2020, with the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions, travel dramatically dropped domestically and internationally, with business travel down by 90% at the lowest point in the year. Now, as more and more individuals are returning to the office, work travel is coming back. But it’s not all clear skies.
How to Ease Back into Traveling for Work: Thankfully, there are strategies that you can use to ease this transition back into business trips, including using the wisdom you’ve gleaned while working remotely.
Here are three ways to leverage your time and energy as you’re planning business travel again:
Tip 1 Based on your particular role and responsibilities, think about where you believe travel will add the highest value.
Tip 2 Even as you’re able to fold more business travel into your recipe for professional success, question whether all the travel you used to do before 2020 needs to be added back in.
Tip 3 If you used to travel multiple times a month, start with just one trip every 30 days and see how you feel.
Read more about transitioning back into business travel after the Covid-19 pandemic in the Harvard Business Review.
Worldwide ERC®, P.O. Box 41990, Arlington, VA 22204, United States, 1-703-842-3400
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