Global Study: The top priorities of Global Mobility managers and the future of assignments
The rapid development of the COVID-19 outbreak, the massive interventions in business life and the new way of working together also influence the work of global mobility teams and seconded employees worldwide. To find answers to current questions and to better understand how companies are responding to these changes in relation to their globally mobile workforce and where they may need to take action, PwC conducted a global Pulse Survey last week. In just one week, 350 people from 38 countries took part.
We are pleased to share some of the interesting insights with you:
- Upcoming international moves: Around half of companies are allowing their people to start their ‘move’ by working from their home country.
- Top 3 priorities: The results showed some common priorities across all territories: 1.) keeping up to date with regulatory changes; 2.) working on communication and planning and 3.) understanding who the mobile employees of the company are and where they are.
- Impact on strategic priorities and future: The top answer was ‘Our strategic projects remain a priority to be delivered’ (41% of respondents). Moreover, 44% expect to ‘return to business as usual as soon as possible with the same number of moves’. 20% think there’s likely to be a decrease in international moves, while only 12% think this will have a fundamental impact on workforce mobility.
PwC clients can view the results on an interactive dashboard and analyse the data by industry, company headquarters and location of the respondents and compare them with their own situation. To get access, please contact your adviser.
Where Global Mobility managers can find help now
Whatever your top concern related to your mobile workforce might be, the PwC tax experts can help you with the ‘here and now’ activities on crisis management and cash savings, as well as with more transformative, future focused actions on continuity.
If keeping up to date with tax measures and regulatory changes is also on top of your agenda, we want to share two sources of information with you that you might find helpful:
- For tax information and insights from an Austrian perspective on how you can prepare your organisation and respond to the crisis, please see: >> PwC AT COVID-19 Website <<
- For tax measures and regulatory changes worldwide, please visit the global PwC Covid-19 help page and select the required territory: >> PwC global COVID-19 Website <<
Our recommendations for international staff mobility
In the current situation, we recommend that employers evaluate the potential tax and social security impacts early and introduce measures now for cross-border employee assignments. Assignments could be affected by, for example, a change in taxation rights or tax domicile due to travel bans and local quarantine policies.
For current assignments, we recommend carrying out an audit of current staff locations and work activities to identify risks. For planned international staff assignments, national restrictions on travel to and from a given country need to be taken into account.
The Austrian tax authorities have already implemented several simplifications for taxpayers due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, no specific guidance has been provided on international issues, such as simplifications for employees working from home in their country of origin due to COVID-19. An overview of information on tax measures and regulatory changes around the world is available on PwC’s global COVID-19 site.
PwC Austria’s Global Mobility team is available to support you on questions relating to your internationally assigned employees and will keep you updated on regulatory changes.
