Page 9 - WERC Mobility - December/January 2022

Perceptions

It’s an Exciting

Question

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Worldwide ERC , from the people packing trucks and
the counselors managing logistics to the lawyers, real
estate agents, mortgage brokers, and immigration special-
ists who represent indispensable experts from end to end.
We are indeed one in this shared mission of service.
Looking ahead to what the future requires of us, I was
struck by the words of Frederick Paxton III in the pages
of this edition.
“We’ve seen those who have been most successful

in staff and business retention tend to be those who
This December/January edition responded, looked around, and asked many ques-
of Mobility naturally lends itself to pausing tions,” says Paxton, senior vice president of Paxton
and considering beginnings and endings. International, in our cover feature on remote work, “For 7
We are emerging, surely if a bit unsteadily, the Long Term.” “They improved policies quickly and,

from the most challenging days of a most importantly, kept the lines of communication and
pandemic. Even in this connected world, support open for their employees.”
it is rare for us to share an experience that Paxton’s insightful words encourage us to be agile, be
has such reach and scope, let alone one that attentive, and support work from anywhere. If those words worldwideerc.org
has so affected our lives, our work, and our leap from the page for you as they did for me, it is because

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world in fundamental ways. they are the principles of Worldwide ERC ’s public policy.

I write this column on my way to These are the very qualities we urge governments to use as a
Chicago for Global Workforce Symposium guide to review, reform, and create immigration policies.

202One, where more than 750 mobility Looking ahead, my sense of confidence in this organi-

professionals are traveling from around the zation, this profession, and this industry is sure. Though
world to gather as one—a strong testament we are not unscathed, neither are we uncertain. Where
to our shared desire for connection, engage- is work going? We have asked it so many times over the
ment, well-being, and community. past year with understandable concern. But it’s such an
Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we exciting question. The greatest transformation of work is

demonstrated what we could accomplish happening in our time, and we will have a voice in what
while we were physically apart. But we that looks like for generations to come.
travel to Chicago to experience the creative
ferment that happens only when people
with diverse perspectives and a shared mis- Lynn Shotwell, GMS
sion gather in person. President & CEO
Nothing speaks more profoundly to Worldwide ERC ®
the mission of mobility than this shared
realization. Physically gathering talented
people where and when they are needed
is the raison d’être of every member of