• Global Mobility after COVID-19: what will be the new normal?

    08-04-2020

    We are facing a crisis of historic proportions; one which will surely change the lens through which we view the world going forward. While we can’t yet predict how the socioeconomic landscape will look post COVID-19, we can start thinking on a smaller scale; for example, how will global mobility evolve from this point on?

    From a social standpoint, communities around the world, including businesses where they can, have rallied in solidarity during this pandemic. What stands out is our:

    – Admiration for healthcare workers and the sacrifices made to save our lives and those of our loved ones

    – Gratitude to everyone involved in our food supply chain, from farmers to truckers to grocery store clerks

    – Recognition that we need to be there for our elders

    From a business and economic perspective, it will take an enormous effort for many companies to get back on their feet. Will they see global mobility’s role as unchanged? Certainly, many organizations will have to resume business travel and relocations because of the nature of their operations while others may have found that travel is not as essential as they once thought or that it is no longer affordable as they emerge from the rubble of the pandemic. In addition to commercial and financial considerations, will the personal experiences of our corporate leaders and the community in general spur changes in how global mobility is managed?

    The following table offers some thoughts on the direction programs may take in the wake of this crisis.

    Unfortunately, we are all still in the thick of it, but this crisis will end. The COVID-19 pandemic will become one of life’s defining moments where many aspects of living and working will be presented in terms of pre and post pandemic. Will it be as significant for global mobility? We’ll see…