Geopolitical tensions, shortages of skilled workers, economic uncertainty and increasing regulatory requirements are fundamentally changing the framework for international employee assignments. Cross-border operations are becoming increasingly diverse and short-term, meaning that traditional guidelines and standard processes are often no longer sufficient. Regulatory requirements are increasing while management must make quick decisions, often based on incomplete information. Risks, costs and effects on employees often only become apparent later, when scope for action is limited and countermeasures are expensive.
Mobility management is therefore increasingly being used as a strategic tool: to develop talent, to specifically manage international projects and to network organizations globally. Vialto’s “Mobility Matters” survey shows how companies around the world are responding to these challenges. 233 companies from 35 countries and nine industries were surveyed for the study – and the results illustrate the change from operationally based secondment programs to strategically anchored mobility functions.
