The Handelsblatt webinar, “Compliance: From Dealbreaker to Success Factor in Assignments, Business Travel, and Workations,” explored the evolving role of global mobility in today’s business landscape. Moderated by People Mobility Alliance co-founder Daniel Zinner, an expert with over 20 years of experience, the panel included industry leaders Tobias Nehls (Siemens), Dr. Bettina Volkens (great2know), and Dr. Julia-Sophie Ezinger (rhome). Together, they discussed how mobility has transitioned from a niche HR topic to a mainstream driver of strategic transformation, offering both opportunities and challenges for modern organisations.
Key Themes Discussed
Changing Employee Needs
Julia emphasised that flexibility and mobility have become standard expectations for employees, driven by both professional and personal motivations. She noted, “Mobility is essentially flexibility, and technology makes this possible,” suggesting that innovative tools can simplify even the most complex administrative challenges.
Demographic Shifts in Germany
Tobias highlighted the urgency of addressing demographic changes, particularly in Germany, where a shrinking workforce demands international talent acquisition. Global mobility, he argued, is not just a necessity but an opportunity to upskill employees and gain new perspectives.
Administrative Complexities and Compliance
The panel acknowledged that managing mobility programs involves navigating intricate regulatory frameworks in tax, labour, and immigration laws. Both Tobias and Julia discussed how HRTech and PeopleTech are vital for automating these processes, enabling businesses to meet compliance requirements while offering tailored solutions to employees.
Perspective Shifts Through Mobility
Bettina, drawing from her extensive experience at Lufthansa, framed mobility as a powerful tool for fostering perspective shifts and personal growth. “Employee mobility is always a change in perspective,” she explained, underscoring how exposure to different cultures and environments enhances organisational resilience.
Panel Highlights
The panel brought together diverse perspectives from leaders in the field. Moderating the discussion, Daniel emphasized how global mobility has transformed from a niche HR discipline focused on managing expats to a mainstream strategy encompassing various aspects of people’s mobility. Tobias of Siemens highlighted the necessity of mobility in an international workforce, emphasizing the importance of balancing flexibility with compliance and leveraging internal tools for managing short-term assignments. Bettina, founder of great2know and former CHRO at Lufthansa, framed mobility as a driver of growth, explaining how it supports talent development and long-term organizational resilience. Meanwhile, Julia, founder of rhome, focused on the role of technology in overcoming administrative hurdles, advocating that compliance need not be a barrier to mobility, even for startups and smaller organizations. Their insights collectively painted a picture of mobility as a strategic enabler rather than an operational challenge.
Moving Forward: Embracing the Future of Global Mobility
The Handelsblatt webinar underscored that the opportunities of global mobility far outweigh the challenges. From enabling flexibility to fostering perspective shifts, mobility is a cornerstone of modern talent strategies. For organisations willing to invest in technology and processes, the payoff is a more agile, resilient, and competitive workforce.
At PMA, we specialise in helping businesses unlock these opportunities through tailored HR strategy consulting and building effective global mobility functions. Whether you’re looking to refine your approach or start from scratch, we’re here to support your journey to a smarter, more streamlined mobility strategy.
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