Image: Canada Government
Let’s face it: 2020 has been the year of challenges, uncertainty, confusion and sometimes fear. As we embark on a new journey in the year of 2021, one must certainly think more positively upon the new opportunities and directions that the pandemic context has given us. The Covid-19 global pandemic has been a tough strike for most of the people, forcing many of us to struggle, adapt and overcome multiple unpleasant situations in order to survive regarding both our health and workplace.
Media and spokespeople from various fields affirmed that the reality as we’ve known it until now is gone. But that doesn’t mean that it all has to be seen as a bad thing: whenever a door closes, another one opens, remember that. This year is loaded with many opportunities, new realities and growth possibilities that we all just need to embrace as much as we can and in our own way.
Regarding the working environment, for example, there are some new possibilities that weren’t taken into consideration before the ‘working from home’ era. At this moment there are two sides of people: the ones who crave social interaction and want to go back to work in a physical environment, and the ones who do not want to come back to the office.
Regardless of the side you’re on right now, we think everybody can agree that once time passes, we need to adapt to the employees’ needs and take into consideration future possibilities that can improve our businesses and the overall well being of the work environment.
Here are 4 ways we think will forever change global mobility as we’ve previously known it:
1. The possibility of working from anywhere
Even though the global pandemic has been a real challenge and people were up in arms over all the restrictions, luckily there were also some who took it as an opportunity to relocate and work from the most beautiful places on Earth! As restrictions have gone milder once the number of Covid cases lowered, people considered renting different properties in sunny places and moved there with their families to work. In order to do so, there are different types of work visas required, according to your occupation. You can apply either for a freelancer visa or on behalf of the company you work with.
For those lucky enough to need only a laptop and good wi-fi connection, moving whenever you like is a possibility we didn’t even know existed before the current context. Sipping a Mojito on a sunny beach somewhere, whilst working on your laptop doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
2. Go digital or go home
There’s no secret that tech companies have flourished since March, being the most profitable sector since the beginning of the pandemic. They offered people an alternative to stay connected from afar and are able to streamline their work like never before. Other sectors have picked up the example and witnessed great results in a very short period of time.
A suitable example here is the global mobility industry. Many relocation and immigration companies began to move their whole activity in the online, so that both HR specialists and employees can have access to a wide range of services from all over the world. Understanding the importance of keeping up with the world and acting accordingly will make the difference between a long-term successful company and the ones which will eventually remain behind.
“Two years of digital transformation has happened in two months, only because we were forced into it and also by working remotely,” said Srikar Reddy, Managing Director and CEO of Sonata Software Ltd. Whether you like it or not, digital is the new response to a more efficient, cost and time effective work alternative to bring people all over the globe together. All you have to do is be open to new realities and the results will rapidly increase. How great is that?
3. HR specialists have now access to a global talent pool
The new manner of looking at things focuses on one major key point: global levels. We are in a buffer period where the economy recovers slowly but surely, and this means that companies must learn how to have access to valuable employees who may have been laid off during the pandemic. The easiest way in doing so: maintain a long-lasting relationship with separate employees. Yes, you heard that right! By having a well-established communication with people that were put on ‘hold’ at the moment might greatly benefit you and your company in the future.
Moreover, HR specialists now have the biggest opportunities of finding and engaging with different types of potential employees and can easily collect information about alternative roles they need to fill.
4. Virtual international assignments will still be a thing
Even though we’re slowly regaining our freedom to walk around and get out more, there are still some unfinished leftovers of the pandemic that we need to be aware of. As much as companies try to bring employees back to the office, a big part of 2021 will still be held online, for obvious safety reasons or at least until the vaccine is available to a wider range of people. That being said, virtual international assignments will continue to be commonplace in the absence of employee mobility.
Looking at the bright side of the picture, not only is this alternative tremendously cheaper than the classic one, but it also allows a company to place a person with the requisite talent and skills in the host location, even though not physically.
Nobody knows 100% what 2021 will bring to the table, however, we’re feeling pretty confident that it will be a much more productive year than the previous one. In the meantime, we can only be open to what the future holds in store for us and try to adapt and create new opportunities for the global mobility world.Let’s face it: 2020 has been the year of challenges, uncertainty, confusion and sometimes fear. As we embark on a new journey in the year of 2021, one must certainly think more positively upon the new opportunities and directions that the pandemic context.
