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:
Workers’ Pay Lagging Behind Global Inflation
Worldwide ERC Closes Women’s History Month With Virtual Celebration
EU Once Again Postpones Implementation of ETIAS
Federal Court Agrees With Worldwide ERC That H-4 Spouses Can Work in U.S.
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Workers’ Pay Lagging Behind Global Inflation
The International Labour Organization's 2022-23 Global Wage Report reveals that real wages have fallen by an average of 0.9% worldwide due to a combination of factors, including the global inflation crisis, lackluster economic growth, and an uncertain economic outlook. The report also indicates that the rise in wages over the past year has not kept up with the increase in prices seen in major advanced economies, a global issue affecting economies in Europe and the United Kingdom.
Why is this important?
The global decrease in real wages may impact businesses that hire workers internationally by affecting their recruitment and retention strategies, compensation packages, and cost structures. Lower wages may lead to challenges in attracting and retaining talent and may result in higher turnover rates. To remain competitive, businesses may need to adjust their compensation packages and be mindful of wage discrepancies between regions to ensure equal pay for equal work.
Worldwide ERC Closes Women’s History Month With Virtual Celebration
March is National Women’s History Month and is when we celebrate International Women's Day. We have spent the month focused on promoting gender equity as part of our overall commitment to advancing strategies that create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces.
As part of our monthlong focus on women, we hosted, in collaboration with the Corporate Housing Providers Association, a special virtual event to celebrate the achievements of women in the mobility industry. I would especially like to thank our sponsors Stay Sojo and CapRelo for all their help in making this event possible, as well as the Women of Global Mobility for facilitating our exciting speed networking session. The meeting provided a dynamic and engaging opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow mobility professionals and discuss how the relocation and corporate housing communities can come together to promote gender equity.
The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a new travel registration system for travelers to Europe, which was originally scheduled to be in place in 2021 but has been delayed several times, with the most recent previous effective date of November 2023. The EU has now delayed the implementation date to 2024, with no specific timeframe provided, and has also delayed the implementation date for the Entry/Exit System (EES) until late 2023. The EES will be an automated system to collect certain information on foreign visas required and visa-exempt travelers when they enter or exit an EU or Schengen Area border.
Why is this important?
ETIAS will require U.S. and other visa-exempt travelers to obtain approval before entering countries in the Schengen zone. Once approved, the registration is valid for five years and allows travelers to spend 90 days within a 180-day period. While ETIAS will have a direct, but likely minimal, impact on workforce mobility, business travelers who fail to register will not be allowed to enter the Schengen zone.
Federal Court Agrees With Worldwide ERC That H-4 Spouses Can Work in U.S.
A federal district court this week ruled that the H-4 EAD program, which allows the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work in the United States, is lawful. Worldwide ERC had joined with other interested parties in filing an amicus brief in the case supporting the legality of the program.
Southbound Relocation has released a housing market analysis that seeks to answer the toughest questions asked about relocation policies, including: Are lump sums the answer? How can you attract and retain talent? And what’s it like being a renter in the U.S.? Read the housing market analysis.
Webinar: Supporting your Expatriate Population Through an Unpredictable Immigration Environment— How can you provide the support required to help your employees navigate the rocky immigration landscape? In this presentation on 19 April, global mobility experts will share tips and strategies to help you lead with empathy and provide support for the unique needs of your expatriate employees. Learn more and register.
Foundation for Workforce Mobility Regional Group Scholarship Partnership Program — Applications are due to the Foundation on 30 April. View full scholarship program details.
Corporate Relocation Council of Chicago (CRC) CRP Exam Review Class— On 9 May, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT in Chicago, learn from and study with mobility experts. Learn more and register.
Mobility Day— Join us for the first Mobility Day event to be held across the United States on 10 May. Worldwide ERC is excited to work with four regional groups to bring you the best content from local to regional to global. We are excited to partner with the Greater Washington Employee Relocation Council (GWERC), North Texas Relocation Professionals (NTRP), Puget Sound Relocation Council (PSRC), and Corporate Relocation Council of Chicago (CRC) to bring this event to life. Learn more and register.
Global Economic Snapshot
In an unusual pattern, the 12 major housing markets west of Texas, plus Austin, saw home prices fall in January, while the opposite happened in the rest of the country. In the Eastern half of the U.S., Florida and other Southern markets are still attracting companies and adding jobs. — The Wall Street Journal
Regardless of where their respective policies fell on the return-to-office spectrum, employers now seem to be set in their chosen paths. Few plan to alter work-from-home arrangements anytime soon. Ninety-five percent of businesses said they expected their teams’ amount of remote work to remain the same over the next six months. — Inc.
The number of immigrants nearly tripled in the nation’s 20 most populous counties from 2021 to 2022, as immigration returned to pre-pandemic levels nationally, the Census Bureau reported. — The New York Times
Germany is preparing to pass a new nationality law that will make it easier for foreigners to gain citizenship in the country. The draft law would allow people to apply for citizenship after five years, while immigration reforms based on Canada’s points system would help skilled workers enter the country. — CNBC
Booking a business trip is not as easy as it used to be. Nowadays, due to high ticket prices and concerns about the economy, business travelers are choosing alternative airports, booking inconvenient flights, or even driving to their destination. To save money, companies are asking their employees to attend more meetings during a single trip, or making changes to their travel policies.
Businesses are starting to travel for work again after the pandemic, but they are thinking more carefully about each trip because ticket prices are higher. Some companies are now requiring managers to approve business trips before they are booked, even if they would have been automatically approved before. Tighten the travel policy too much, and companies risk losing top-producing employees to a competitor in a still-robust labor market.
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