Welcome to Mobility Minute, a newsletter published every Friday byWorldwide ERC®for the benefit of members and the global mobility and relocation industry. Here’s a quick glimpse of what you’ll find in this week’s issue:
COVID-19 Restrictions on Chinese Citizens Could Impact Business Travel
ESG Is a Workforce Engagement Strategy
Upward Mobility Internship Program Still Accepting Positions for 2023 Cohort
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COVID-19 Restrictions on Chinese Citizens Could Impact Business Travel
In order to cross borders, some countries, including the United States, now require travelers from China to show a negative test result. On 3 January, China strongly denounced what it deemed as unjust and politically charged travel restrictions on its nationals, threatening countermeasures in retaliation.
Why is this important?
The introduction of testing for passengers arriving from China could potentially negatively impact the travel industry. The anticipated surge of business trips in January has now come to a halt, resulting in an immense setback for both travelers and corporations.
Bringing impact and meaning in the workplace through environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and commitments is becoming a new employee expectation. Adopting ESG strategies that align with employee values is a great way for talent to see that your organization is committed to corporate sustainability and give your employees meaning.
Why is this important?
Having a shared purpose in the workplace creates meaningful employee experiences. Seven out of 10 employees said they wanted their job to bring societal impact and called it a “deal-breaker” or a “strong expectation” when considering a new job. Taking initiative on ESG matters that your employees deem important also demonstrates that the organization is listening to them and takes their well-being seriously.
Upward Mobility Internship Program Still Accepting Positions for 2023 Cohort
Upward Mobility, a diversity internship program for the mobility industry, continues to accept position submissions for the 2023 summer program. Companies from across our industry are coming together to host Upward Mobility interns, pay them at least $15/hour, and provide them with mentors for guidance and advice.
Internships can be in-person, virtual, or hybrid and start by 12 June and on or after 12 August. During this time frame, interns also participate in industry training and networking events.
Learn more here and contact Andrew Walker to find out how to enroll your organization and to submit positions for the 2023 program.
Global Economic Snapshot
Labor unrest took an unusually heavy toll on ports around the world last year, and the outlook for continued economic instability could bring even more upheaval to global supply chains in 2023. The number of protests and strikes affecting port operations quadrupled last year to 38 incidences, according to Crisis24, a maritime security consultancy. From trucker stoppages in South Korea to dock strikes in Britain, worker shortages have prompted shipping lines to divert or delay cargoes globally. — Bloomberg
More than a dozen countries have announced new rules for travelers departing from China. Most are requiring travelers departing from China to test negative for COVID-19 before arriving — the same requirement China has for international travelers to the mainland. But South Korea and Japan — two top destinations for Chinese travelers — said they are not increasing flights in response to China’s border reopening. China’s embassies in South Korea and Japan announced Tuesday that they would stop issuing visas to “Korean nationals” and “Japanese citizens.” — CBNC
U.S. real estate has undergone a dramatic slowdown in transaction activity in the months since the Federal Reserve began jacking up interest rates. Sales of existing homes plunged from peak pandemic levels to about 4.1 million in November from over 6 million units sold per year in 2021 as the Fed has dramatically raised interest rates to tame inflation. — Market Watch
Off-world trips are rapidly increasing: 42 of the 51 commercial astronauts recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration left Earth within the past two years. The FAA predicts their ranks will balloon in the next decade, and some experts have expressed optimism that relatively affordable space travel could be possible by the middle of this century.
Would you travel to space?
For now, though, costs remain enormous. A $450,000 ticket reserves a spot on Virgin Galactic’s space plane, which flies 50 miles above Earth. Blue Origin’s 11-minute journey by rocket, which reportedly cost more than $1 million, shoots above the 62-miles-high Kármán line, the generally agreed-upon boundary between Earth and space.
Worldwide ERC®, P.O. Box 41990, Arlington, VA 22204, United States, 1-703-842-3400
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