In our previous article, we explored why a renewed focus on duty of care is essential in today’s volatile global environment. But how do organisations move from theory to action? What does a truly people-first mobility programme look like in practice, and how can you ensure your duty of care delivers real results for your assignees and their families?
Building a resilient, human-centric mobility framework
Proactive risk assessment and scenario planning
Anticipate the unexpected by mapping out potential risks – whether geopolitical, environmental, health, or regulatory – across all locations. Develop scenario-based action plans so you are never caught unprepared.
Personalised support mechanisms
- Pre-departure briefings: Equip assignees and their families with tailored information on health, safety, and culture.
- Family integration services: Offer school search assistance, spouse/partner career support, and local community connections.
- On-the-ground resources: Provide access to emergency contacts, mental health professionals, and local support networks.
Leverage technology for real-time support
Use digital platforms and mobile apps to send risk and safety alerts, track assignee locations (with consent) to facilitate rapid response, and communicate securely with assignees via in-app chat functionalities. All of this can be done in real-time, enabling you to nip developing issues in the bud/respond immediately to an issue and so prevent it from escalating.
Responsive crisis management
Establish clear escalation protocols and 24/7 helplines to support in the event of emergencies, from natural disasters to sudden regulatory changes. This enables you to maintain authority and communications in the face of disruptive circumstances, instilling confidence within both assignees and the wider business.
Continuous feedback and improvement
Conduct regular surveys and then use the feedback received to address any gaps in your duty of care delivery. For example, by surveying assignees both during and post-move, you can collect in-the-moment feedback as well as more reflective, holistic feedback. The former you can respond to immediately, tackling any duty of care issues before they escalate. You can then combine the former with the latter to help you develop a fuller understanding of where you are sitting on the duty of care spectrum.
Real-world examples
- Natural disaster: When wildfires disrupted West Coast assignments in 2024, companies with robust risk monitoring practices had already laid the groundwork for rerouting moves and arranging temporary housing, enabling them to respond swiftly and so maintain business continuity.
- Rapid regulatory changes: When visa policies shifted suddenly in Asia in 2022/23, organisations which had real-time compliance tracking systems in place were able to organise the required changes swiftly and smoothly, minimising stress for their assignees.
Make duty of care your differentiator
Today, a successful relocation is about so much more than simply getting someone from A to B, on time and as cost-effectively as possible. It has been widely acknowledged for many years that quality of service delivery and quality of customer experience are critical components of a successful move; over the last few years, duty of care has emerged as an equally critical factor. In order to remain competitive within the Global Mobility industry, companies must ensure that their programme prioritises duty of care, and that it is flexible enough to evolve as duty of care requirements change.
Want to join the conversation?
We are inviting clients, mobility leaders and our wider audience to take part in a short interactive video survey exploring which duty of care elements should be built into a Global Mobility framework. (Your response is confidential and will only be used to inform future discussions).
Closing thought
Download our new guide: Resilient Global Mobility: A practical guide to duty of care in a changing world