Page 11 - WERC Mobility - November 2021

Perceptions

The Human

Equation

identify hurdles that might trip them up and help them
understand how to avoid them.”
Mobility remains a choreography of distinct processes,
specialties, and stakeholders firmly rooted in real-world
challenges. Household goods delayed because of supply
chain issues? Housing going for 20% above the asking
price, drying up supply? Tax headaches related to the
move to remote work? It takes more than technology to
handle these issues, and as mobility professionals, we’re
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t handling it all.
so much change the scope of industry Meanwhile, technology has provided transferees 7
technology as launch us to the horizon of with the capacity to lean in on some pieces of their
its widespread implementation. own relocation; it’s instant gratification that meets the
Technological innovation is now expectations of the day but can come at a price. Our
continuously helping us accomplish innate caution often depends on a bit of hesitation, like a
more, reducing friction and compress- brief pause before the backbeat of a rimshot. So, mobil- worldwideerc.org
ing time and distance, with the result ity professionals must be equally present in the process,
that everything is much more real-time. providing both guardrails and good counsel.
Information comes to us from around Managing expectations is what we have always done
the world in as little time as it takes the and are continuing to do. “To provide the most appropriate
question to reach our fingertips. The effi- tools, we must understand the abilities and limitations of
ciency is as irrefutable as it is irresistible. candidates and employees, and merge the technical element
But ultimately, it can never be more than with the human element,” say Laura Levenson and Ed
part of the equation. Wolff in “Smart DE&I,” page 22. “While companies can
We’re a people business, after all, and give their employees the same technology tools and support
that human value piece—taking care of networks, individuals work differently and may rely on
our employees—remains a critical part human interaction to thrive. The pandemic has certainly
of the mobility value chain. “Technology taught us that employees need or benefit from a wide vari-
is the solution that can really provide ety of tools and support.”
a more seamless experience, manage We are guiding this new world, and that’s worth remem-
the administrative burden, and inform bering. So, while technology may be helping us get there
people ahead of time so they know what faster, we, as always, are where work is going.
to expect,” says Weichert Workforce
Mobility’s Ellie Sullivan in “Open
Doors,” page 28. “That provides more Lynn Shotwell, GMS
capacity for the people who are coaching President & CEO
the employees and counseling them to Worldwide ERC ®