For many businesses, employee relocation is more than just a human resources process, it is an important business function that supports the growth and success of a company by allowing it to access global talent and expand into new markets. For UK-based organisations, the Global Mobility Manager supports employees relocating overseas as well as to the UK, while managing organisational interests.
Understanding the Role
As a Global Mobility Manager, you will be responsible for the relocation of all employees moving into the UK as well as those transferring out of the UK. The role will bring together best practice from across HR, Compliance, Operations and Workforce planning to create a process design to enable the organisations to move employees (on a temporary and/or permanent basis) in a timely and efficient manner. This is not a travel booking or visa application role, more a process designer to create an effective end to end methodology. The Global Mobility Manager will utilise extensive knowledge of policies and procedures to ensure that organisational needs are balanced against the needs of the employee.
Managing International Relocations
Global Mobility Managers have a core function within a business to manage the international assignments and relocation of employees. They are responsible for supporting employees through the relocation process, whether that is internally or externally, and managing the entire end to end journey. This involves securing the correct visa for travel, arranging travel and accommodation, and providing employees with the relevant allowances and tax relief. A poorly managed relocation can cause considerable stress to the individual concerned and disrupt the organisation as a whole. A well managed relocation on the other hand can add value to the organisation, improve productivity and contribute to the retention of key employees. In addition we can assist the individual in question to settle into their new role and location as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Immigration and Legal Compliance
Immigration compliance is a key priority for Global Mobility Managers in the UK. Ensuring that relocating employees have the correct work permissions to live and work in the country and that the organisation is complying with all relevant regulations as sponsor or employer is a major objective. This could involve support with visa applications for employees moving to the UK such as Skilled Worker visas, undertaking right to work checks and staying up-to-date with new regulations and policies. The failure of an employer to comply with the relevant rules can have severe penalties, considerable negative publicity and restrictions on future hiring. As a result Global Mobility Managers are increasingly seen to be specialist practitioners who manage the risk and support overseas hiring.
Tax, Payroll, and Policy Oversight
When an employee is relocated to an overseas country and then returns to the UK, a number of tax and payroll considerations may arise. The Global Mobility Manager will work with internal finance teams & external advisors to ensure a successful relocation. In addition to planning the moves, the team also develops policy for international moves for the business. Their goal is to establish a consistent level of support to employees on assignment while at the same time managing cost. Mobility policies manage a host of key issues such as level and duration of assignment, financial support for the assignee and/or their family, types of temporary housing to be provided overseas, or terms and conditions of repatriation. Consistency and cost are key issues that need to be managed.
Supporting Employee Experience
Supporting employees to feel valued and included to ensure they hit the ground running and perform well is a key part of the overall employee experience. For many employers, facilitating mobility is a key issue for them, either positively to support retention and assignment success or negatively to address problems arising from limited opportunities for internal movement.
Why the Role Matters in the UK
The UK remains a hot spot for global business and an attractive destination for organisations seeking to source international talent, meaning Global Mobility Managers are essential to enabling businesses to bring employees globally while overcoming compliance challenges. In an environment where compliance rules and regulations are increasingly complex and changing, the Global Mobility function has a vital role to play in ensuring that organisations can continue to hire and relocate employees successfully.
Final Thoughts
Global Mobility Managers in the UK are more than just ‘passport managers’ processing overseas assignments. They are responsible for ensuring compliance, design of international relocation policies and procedures, supporting both relocating employees and organisations, and ensuring that the wider Global Talent / Workforce strategy is aligned to business objectives.
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