THE WORLD SHUTS DOWN - Spring 2020 www.eura-relocation.com - EURA Relocation
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Spring 2020 www.eura-relocation.com THE WORLD SHUTS DOWN
New Modules
abg+
Achieving
Business Growth
cam+A cam+B
Coaching Approaches
in Mobility
Coaching Approaches
in Mobility
Online December
Cost:
€250 per module
Completely free to EuRA Members and their
teams until June 2020
For full instructions on how to access the Academy;
Click here
The Contents
EuRApean 4 Letter from the CEO 21 New Member Focus:
Save the
Contact Us:
5 Letter from the President Roomzzz
Dates!
6 & 7 Diss Business Centre 6 EGQS Training 22 Feature: Lauri Murphy &
Diss
UK 7 New MIM Free Programmes Susan Ginsberg
IP21 4HD
+44 1379 640883 8 EuRAGlobal 2019 24 Feature: Newland Chase
www.eura-relocation.com
10 Feature: Jon Harman 28 News from the Industry
Contributions on all aspects of mobility 12 #euraworkingfromhome
are welcomed for publication in the
EuRApean. If you are a member of EuRA 14 YouTube Podcasts
and would like to contribute news about 2020 USA Reception 2020 Washington DC
your company please get in touch. Please 15 Words of the Week
October 29
contact Dominic Tidey, Managing Editor
16 CV Legal Impact EuRA International Relocation Congress 2021 Seville
dominic@eura-relocation.com or Maria
Manly, Editorial Consultant maria@eura- March 23-26
17 Legal Update with Gordon 2021 USA Reception Chicago
relocation.com
Disclaimer: Kerr October 21
Opinions expressed in the EuRApean are EuRA International Relocation Congress 2022
not necessarily those of the publisher April 26 - 29
unless otherwise stated.
Published by:
EuRA
Diss
IP21 4HD UK
Notes from the collective good and much as we all know As Tad says in his report, wherever you can join
the Editor that, it doesn’t make it easier. together with your competitors to form groups
to rally governments into recognising our
Our industry is under tremendous pressure and industry and the vital role it will have to play
Normality has
will have to fight to weather this storm. But when we start to rebuild economies, you
shifted…
one thing that has never ceased to amaze and should. Please let us know if we can help.
significantly and
inspire me about the people who call
in a way none of
relocation their vocation, is their resilience, With all of the EuRA members we’ve spoken to,
us could’ve
brilliance, adaptability and humanity. Everyone barriers to communicating with competitors
imagined just a
I’ve interviewed has shown such compassion have broken down and this new spirit of
few weeks ago.
and care for their clients, teams, colleagues and collaboration is what will keep our industry
In that time
the wider EuRA family. relevant and strong. But for all of the strength,
we’ve moved into a strange new world of
loyalty and dedication that this crisis has shown
uncertainty, not going out, working from home.
When this ends, our industry will be required to from mobility professionals around the world,
But as Tad says in his CEO Report, I think we’ve
act fast and hard. Mobility will be at the we cannot get away from the fact that our
all realised that the connections we have, the
forefront of growth and economic rebuilding. industry, like many other critical commercial
friendships with colleagues, EuRA members
Companies will be looking to recoup lost sectors, is hurting. But our industry is vital to
around the world and competitors suddenly
growth and lost income and talent the world after the crisis.
mean so much. Communication and
management will be central to that.
connection is what holds us together.
In one of the YouTube interviews, I spoke with
But in the meantime the governmental Beverly Sunn of Asia Pacific Properties in Hong
Over the past weeks I’ve been privileged to
reactions from around the world to supporting Kong. She summed it up beautifully by telling
have interviewed a number of our members
companies vary hugely. In Europe the me that our industry is built on “passion and
from all over the world and the message has
predominant response has been to support compassion” and I don’t think I have ever
been the same. We will get through this. This
salaries in order to prevent layoffs. These heard anything that sums up the brilliance of
is probably the toughest thing my generation
measures have mostly been enacted fast and mobility providers, better.
has collectively had to face and having
have given the business community a vital
restrictions placed on our basic liberties is
lifeline and the confidence to sit this out and
something we have never really experienced.
wait for the crisis to abate. In other countries Dom Tidey
Our mantra has been freedom. To move, to
the emphasis has been placed on lenders to
travel, to work, to live, to love. In all aspects of Managing Editor
ease restrictions to support companies in
our lives we have always been free to do what
meeting their payroll, but this ultimately adds
we chose to do. But now we have to act for
to debt.
3 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
Letter from the CEO Tad Zurlinden
The events of the past weeks have industry in order to to today more than 500 new
blindsided us all, but I am humbled, prove what we students have joined the EuRA
proud, amazed and inspired by the already know… the Academy and are studying
response from our incredible volume of work will towards their MIM
industry. Everyone I’ve spoken to has not just return, it qualifications.
placed the needs of their assignees will be
ahead of every other concern that unprecedented I am so grateful to the team
they may have and at a time like this and we need to be who support EuRA, from my
those concerns are considerable. ready to accept it. staff to the Strategic
The dedication I’ve heard about Consultants who drive our
being shown by leaders, consultants I never thought programmes forward. It’s with a
and teams all over the world has that I would be in gratitude that’s hard to put into
reinforced what we all knew… our the position of words that I tell you they have
industry is amazing. negotiating the postponement of our volunteered to delay billing for their
annual conference once, let alone outstanding work until the next
What we face is unprecedented and twice. Ironically we were negotiating financial year. This means we can
being able to plan at the moment is with the same hotel group in the continue to provider legal and
almost impossible, but what we do same country as we were back in compliance support, develop new
know, is when we come out of this, 2010, nearly 10 years to the day. education programmes in the
managing global mobility will never That time, as we drove back through Academy, roll out further support to
before have been so important. Our France from Mallorca a week later, members undertaking the EGQS and
industry is going to be at the we knew that the only thing that continue to build on the outstanding
forefront of rebuilding economies all would keep EuRA going was the programme we had lined up for
over the world and we need to be kindness and understanding of our Seville 2020.
ready to react fast and big when that members and delegates. In 2010
day comes. our conference consisted of around Over the past weeks, we have all
400 delegates and I could say then seen our contingency planning
Wherever you can access that I personally knew 350 of them. tested to the limits, in ways we would
government assistance to cut tax, pay In 2020 we have 726 delegates never have wished, but in ways which
staff or anything else, seek it out and signed up to join, and I probably still show just how vital such planning is.
take it. Where you can join together only know personally about 350 of One of the most acute things to
with your competitors to contact and them. So we were all so humbled at strike me personally about this crisis
lobby your local political the response. So far to date, over is how the means we use to
representatives, do it. Our industry 700 delegates have agreed for EuRA communicate allow us to build
sits under the radar. We are not to issue them a credit note for 2021 communities, maintain friendships
hospitality or aviation, but the role and have not asked for a refund. In and provide support to each other.
we have to play in the future months practical terms this means we can
is inestimable and governments move forward, but just like for Please take a moment to check out
need to know how vital the role of everyone right now, that won’t be our Channel on YouTube and the
mobility providers in all their enough. I have cut my salary in half interviews we have been conducting
diversity is going to be. for the next year, we have furloughed daily with members across the world.
one member of the team on full pay The positivity with which we’re all
I am working with a group of UK via a UK government assistance reacting can sometimes be hard to
members to lobby the British programme and no-one will be maintain, but when you pick up the
government on a local and national getting a bonus, even on cash phone, launch Skype or FaceTime
political level. These arrangements already earned. This will save EuRA a and start to connect, we realise we
are not being made on an EU level great deal of money which we will are all in this together however
so it’s vital that you can group earmark as a hardship fund. We cliched that may seem.
together where necessary to work fervently hope that this will be
with your national governments. If enough to prevent cutting back our These are extraordinary times and we
you need any support from me or my commitments to members. are all stressed, but they will end.
team, or other EuRA Members, Keep talking, keep listening, maintain
please just reach out. Part of the As you know we have waived all fees those bonds with colleagues and
reason we sent out the impact survey for certifications in the MIM friends all over the world and when
in March was for you to have some programme. The take up from we’re all together again, it’s going to
idea of the scale of the impact on our members has been phenomenal. Up be one amazing party!!
4 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
Letter from our President Michèle Bramstoft
Did you notice how people were unable to stop going out on
Dear Fellow EuRA the town in most cities after the pandemic hit? Did you notice
‘Family’ Members, how at the first hint of spring people were congregating in
the parks? This is after everyone had been warned to stay
home. We crave human connection – despite whatever is
happening globally or otherwise.
Simon Sinek is one of my
favorite sources of inspiration. After returning from the EuRA Sevilla meeting, I was in self
He likes to talk about focusing imposed quarantine. When our fitness instructor uploaded
on the future. He talks about some dance numbers to an app, I was delighted (as some of
people that are so committed you may know, dancing is my ‘happy place’). I noticed that as I
to their vision of the future, plowed through a few numbers, I was asking myself, “where
they refuse to let other people and/or things discourage was that happy feeling I usually get when dancing?” Even
them! These purposeful people are innovators. though intellectually I was aware of how we get energy from
being together, suddenly this realization became physically
I believe that we all have the capacity to be innovators! Do real and I could FEEL how much I missed everyone’s energy.
you agree? And when we focus on what we want, we get it.
Right? The opportunity to reconnect in person is going to make our
reunion next March PHEN-OM-MEN-AL!! It’s one of the
This was evident last month while in Sevilla. The EuRA board secrets to EuRA conferences - that warm, family type
members that were able to attend the 1st meeting of the year connection that manifests every time we meet. Plus, I’m
were focused on making the Sevilla conference HAPPEN. And excited to announce new additions to our conference: a
they did, and it will. Watch out Sevilla - the EuRA family is wellness room with yoga & guided meditations. With the
reuniting in your sunny sector of Spain in 2021!! experience of 2020 in the past, fortifying us for new
challenges of the future, we will come together and
There were serendipitous elements of the situation that appreciate our EuRA family more than ever.
contributed to Tad & the Board’s conviction to find a win-win
solution. EuRA’s history with Meliá Hotels was one of them. In the meantime, remember to ‘Generate Relocation
Remember 10 years ago when we had to postpone the Recognition’, ok? And now that we have extra time to find
Mallorca conference? That was Meliá. more exceptional short stories to mention in Sevilla 2021 [for
the EuRA eBook], please keep sending me them!!
Having the EuRA board in Sevilla physically also played a role
in the positive outcome of the negotiations. We arrived just Your questions and concerns are always welcome.
before the airlines started cancelling flights, it was then that
we were able to see the gravity of the global pandemic with Kind Regards,
2020 vision. Michèle
Since then, one of my personal realizations is how the human president@eura-relocation.com
aspect of our lives is bigger and stronger than I had
imagined. Although technology is here to enhance our day to
day, it is unable to replace the energy we get from each other,
especially when we are in the same space, physically.
5 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
EuRA Global Quality Seal
Newly Certified and Re-certified Members
Congratulations to our newly certified and re-certified EuRA Global Quality
Seal Members since our last edition
Newly Certified Newly IOR Global Services LARM Colombia
Recertified
Bright Expats Start-Up Services Altair Global
Copenhagen
Taj Relocations Relocations Home Conseil
Professional Relo Connectiv
Online Training EuRA Quality Seal
on the EuRA
27, 28 & 29 April Academy
16:00 CET Everything you always wanted to
Join Martina Scharwey for our annual introduction to the EGQS know about the EuRA Global
training webinars. This series of three sessions covers Quality Seal is now in a new 3
everything you need to know about setting up a process
management system. You'll learn how to build your Quality
Component Course in the EuRA
Manual and how to implement all the required policies to Academy! It's entirely free so just
ensure you're completely compliant for the future. login and start https://
euraacademy.thinkific.com
Even if this isn't the right time for you to go forward to your
official audit, it's a great time to learn how to implement a
process management system across
Introduction to the
your organisation. Following these
three (free to EuRA Members) webinars
will simplify the process, led by a true
expert in quality management.
EGQS
Watch the film
6 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
New MIM Programmes Online!
Coaching Approaches in Mobility
Nine years ago, EuRA, in Nine years later and we ALL MIM PROGRAMMES ARE
partnership with Oxford Brookes are transferring all 12 FREE FOR ALL MEMBERS TO
University (OBU), developed a modules into the online CERTIFY ANY OF THEIR
coaching programme for relocation EuRA Academy and
TEAMS DURING THE
professionals. We assembled a Programmes A, B & C are
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
crack team of members from across online now with
Europe to bring their relocation Programme D going live
expertise to developing a syllabus in May. Programme D Online Soon!
Module 10 - Transactional Analysis 2
that we hoped would appeal to
relocation professionals helping Each Programme consists of three
Module 11 - How Not to Start and
people from all over the world to distinct Modules looking at Argument
manage change by working one to different coaching skills and how
one with enhanced skills. they relate directly to the relocation Module 12 - Cultural Competences
process. and Personal Development
For many years we have focussed on
the vital importance of working with Programme A All modules are free to
intercultural skill and sensitivity but Module 1 - Introduction to Coaching EuRA Members in the EuRA
the rationale behind this and the GROW Model
Academy
programme was to look less at the
Module 2 - Coaching Skills
macro cultural factors and more at
the individual human. Bringing Module 3 - Transactional Analysis Part
coaching knowledge into the One
intercultural mix enabled us to
deliver a skill set that helped the Programme B
professional help the assignee and Module 4 - Roles & Responsibilities
family to look at their own choices
and their reactions to change. Module 5 - Giving Feedback and
Challenging Supportively
Our brilliant, now Strategic
Module 6 - Learning
Consultant for Education, Dr
Carmelina Lawton Smith was at the
Programme C
time, head of the International
Module 7 - Handling Change Dr. Carmelina Lawton Smith
Coaching and Leadership faculty at
Primary Trainer
OBU and developed the Module 8 - Emotional Intelligence EuRA Strategic Consultant
programme with the EuRA focus Education
group. Module 9 - Positive Focus carmelina@eura-relocation.com
7 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
EuRA in Ho Chi Minh We were so delighted to drummers, and musicians as welcome such a great group of We had some fantastic speakers, well as a startling magic show people to the awesome city of sessions based around culture, and amazing Vietnamese Ho Chi Minh for our fourth EuRA compliance and immigration as cuisine, it was a great Global Conference. Looking well as an excellent day of MIM+ opportunity to connect and back from where we are now it’s Legal Training. build our friendships and hard to take for granted the networks. ease and confidence with which Our Gala Dinner, on a boat we all travelled across the world sailing down the Saigon River PHOTO GALLERY to get together to learn, was an event which will never be connect, share and celebrate… forgotten! With a wonderful but we will do this all again! atmosphere, superb dancers, 8 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
Feature:
“Disruption, Innovation, Good Ideas
and the Value of Books”
Jon Harman | Global Account Manager - CORT
Judging by the ubiquity of don’t need to understand bit combinations, the adjacent
conference sessions, industry chain or have the ability to possible expanded. This
webinars, and trade code our own video game in process continued, the
publication articles on the order to innovate. Innovation adjacent possible advancing at
topic, it would appear that is all around us. A each new combination until
everyone in relocation is chimpanzee using a blade of that primordial stew was rich
either fervently searching for grass to get ants out of an and diverse enough to include
mobility’s disruptive anthill is an innovation. We the possibility of life. The
innovation or hiding in a are looking for ways to make same principles were at play
corner hoping that it won’t our business better, not a as life forms became more
put them out of business means to change the world. If complex, expanding what was
when it arrives. we think of innovation as possible with each new
simply having a good idea, it adaptation.
For the few minutes it will suddenly becomes more A chimpanzee using a blade of
take to read this article, let’s attainable. grass to get ants out of an anthill
take a pause from our is an innovation.
brainstorming session or step In his brilliant and essential
out from the corner in which book, Where Good Ideas It may be easier to grasp the
we’ve been hiding and Come From, Steven Johnson concept if we apply it to a
consider the notion of explores seven patterns that more familiar environment.
disruptive innovation more have proven effective in Each day when a resident of
closely. fostering the generation of London steps out the door,
good ideas. One of these she enters a diverse and
Let's define disruption as a patterns, the adjacent changing world of possible
large scale innovation. Doing possible, is a concept first encounters with people,
so frees us from talking about defined by the scientist Stuart businesses, fashion,
disruption (yeah!) and allows Kauffman as a means of entertainment, education,
us to simply consider describing the various employment, transportation,
innovation. An unfortunate possible molecular architecture, music, art,
side-effect of life in the age of combinations in the culture, food, fitness and
devices is that we have come primordial stew that was pre- more.
to associate innovation with biotic earth. Each time
digital technology. We seem molecules bumped into each The adjacent possible for our
to have forgotten that we other and formed new imaginary Londoner includes
10 - The EuRApean Spring 2020all of the potential futures spend an extended period of social media on the other.
that she might create by time with new concepts. This Which way does the scale tip?
turning down that street or extended exposure makes it
introducing herself to this more likely that important At the risk of stating the
person or accepting information will find a home obvious, we would all do well
employment with that in our long term memory to read what interests us as
company or signing up for which is where it needs to be opposed to what we "should"
this if it is to help us generate a read. If we all read the same
cooking course. The good idea. Bill Gates does not business books we are simply
possibilities inherent to city publish an annual list of TED constructing similar mental
living are exponential. Not so Talks to watch. He publishes landscapes constrained by
in a small town. a list of books to read. similar boundaries. History,
science, biography, the arts all
How does all this talk of I know, I know. None of us have the power to expand our
innovation, monkeys, have time to read these days. adjacent possible. Good ideas
primordial stew and big cities Well, none of us except for are out there and we are more
relate to reading? Consider Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, likely to find them when we
the mind of the avid reader as Oprah Winfrey, David learn about what truly
a city and the mind of a non- Rubenstein, Barack Obama, engages us.
reader as a small town. If a Phil Knight, Elon Musk, Mark
good idea is the collision of Cuban, Jay Z, Sheryl As Johnson says in
two previously unrelated Sandberg, Steven Speilberg, summarizing his chapter on
concepts within a mind, then Tony Hsieh, Richard Branson, the adjacent possible, “The
our ability to generate such Lebron James, Angela Merkel, trick to having good ideas is
ideas is constrained by our Eric Schmidt, Peter Thiel, Jeff not to sit around in glorious
own mental adjacent possible. Bezos, and Michael isolation and try to think big
We cannot form an idea using Bloomberg, to name a few of thoughts. The trick is to get
knowledge that we do not the significant figures who more parts on the table.”
already possess. How do we promote the transformative When it comes to our mind,
come to possess this adjacent power of habitual reading. the parts on the table are best
possible expanding collected via a good old
knowledge? I would argue Bill Gates does not publish a list fashioned book.
that the best available tool for of TED Talks to watch. He
doing so is a book. publishes a list of books.
Technology has increased our Just what is it that has us all Jon Harman, GMS
available avenues to learning. so busy that we have decided Global Account Manager
We now have podcasts and that there is no time to read? CORT, A Berkshire Hathaway
TED Talks and online college To what degree have we Company
courses, to name a few. But allowed the trivial to overtake T +1.540.255.8349 l E
when it comes to absorbing the essential in our daily
jon.harman@cort.com |
new concepts in a way that lives? Put thirty minutes of
cortdestinationservices.com
truly expands our knowledge, reading on one side of the
reading has the upper hand. scale and thirty minutes of
Reading a book allows us to
11 - The EuRApean Spring 2020#euraworkingfromhome
Thanks to everyone who’s sent in a more integrated work-life Page 2 from top right to left;
pictures of their home work space. balance. But from people we’re Johanna Lennartson, Laura Ganon,
It’s been brilliant to see were we all talking to, it seems we can’t wait to Peggy Love, Michele Bramstoft,
are! Please keep them coming! be back with our teams again! Lena Rekdal, Susana Bourne, Pierre
Jeronimo, Renata Busettini, Tad
It’s funny how for many of us, Page 1 from top right to left; Zurlinden and new assistant!
working from home has been a life Fiona Mougenot, Lorna Keen,
goal. No more lengthy Maddalena Michieli, Dino Isernia,
communting, more time with family, Sofia Bentinck, Stephan Compain
12 - The EuRApean Spring 2020EuRA’s YouTube Channel
Interviews with Members Across the World
Over the past weeks we’ve been interviewing
members all over the world to find how
they’re coping with the coronavirus crisis.
You can watch them all on our YouTube
Channel
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
14 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Words of the Week
Dom Tidey - EuRA C.O.O.
On our social media platforms over the past blueberries?", "No". "Do you have any "Det föll mellan stolarna" translates as "It
few months, we’ve been taking a look at raspberries?" "Tampoco"... "I don't have fell between chairs", an excuse used when
words and phrases in languages across the raspberries either" two people were supposed to do
globe, that don’t really have direct something but nobody did, so you say "it
translations into English. Here are just a "Fika" - This Swedish word literally means fell between the chairs" when you mean "I
few! coffee, but it's actually more about the know I was meant to, but I forgot!”
ritual of taking a break for coffee, a snack
and a chat with a co-worker... a bit like "Le démon de midi", translates as "to have
"Elevenses" in England! the midday demon" and means to have a
midlife crisis, that phase when suddenly
buying a sports car is almost like demonic
possession!
“Shinrin-Yoku” This Japanese phrase
expresses the feeling of relaxation you get
from taking a bath in the forest... a sense of
tranquility with nature
"Avaler des couleuvres" translates from
French as "To swallow grass snakes" and
means feeling so insulted that you are just
unable to speak!
"Kalsarikännit"... this Finnish word is an
amalgam of two others, "Kalsarit",
underpants or long johns and "kannit",
getting drunk... so, getting drunk at home
in your underwear!
"Desvelado" this Spanish word is more of a
phrase and means to be exhausted from
lack of sleep... all you can think about is เอาหูไปนา เอาตาไปไร่ - This Thai phrase
taking a nap, but you're at work! translates as “Take ears to the field, take
eyes to the farm.” and it means don't pay
"Tampoco" a any attention as in, don't bring your eyes
Spanish term and ears with you.
meaning "I
don't have that Follow us on;
either" - used https://www.facebook.com/eurarelocation/
for example; https://www.instagram.com/eura_relocation/
"Do you have https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominictidey/
any https://twitter.com/EuRA_Relocation
15 - The EuRApean Spring 2020CV Update; Legal & Financial Issues for Relo
Writing this, in April 2020, it is far from clear margins are already tight. It is particularly Predictions along these lines have existed for
what the final impact of the Coronavirus may concerning to witness the behaviour of some decades, but such has been the impact of this
be and how long it will be before we return to large corporations, currently requesting pandemic that there is a growing feeling that
anything like business normality. So these discounts as high as 30% on goods and some fundamental shifts in international
comments are intended only as broad services across their supply chains. business practices are coming our way.
indicators of the legal issues which are likely to
arise from this global pandemic. 3. Contractual Obligations 5. Insurance
1. Health and Safety The pandemic has prevented the delivery of It’s unlikely that many companies, including
relocation services across the world. In legal relocation businesses, will have insurance in
It goes without saying that the health of terms, this means that DSPs and other place to compensate for the loss of income
employees is the number one priority, in both relocation service providers are unable to meet suffered during this period. That fact is
moral and legal terms. The law requires their contractual obligations to deliver services recognised by the many forms of government
employers to safeguard the wellbeing of their to their clients. When service delivery financial assistance now available in most
staff. The challenge is likely to be that, as becomes impossible in this way, contractors countries.
national restrictions on movement and are protected against compensation claims by
“distancing” begin to be lifted, there will be clients in two ways: While you may have in place some form of
pressure from clients to resume normal service a. Ideally, your service contracts will contain Business Interruption Insurance, this is
as quickly as possible. As an employer, it is “Force Majeure” clauses, which suspend or normally restricted to physical damage to
important that you are entirely satisfied that terminate your service obligations when premises, so it’s unlikely to apply to business
normal service can be resumed safely, for each external factors make normal service delivery interruption caused by a pandemic. As with all
of your services and locations, before impossible; forms of insurance, “the devil is in the detail”
employees are instructed to begin non-remote b. If a contract does not contain a Force and you should consult with your broker on
working again. Majeure clause, you need to rely on the exactly what you are covered for and any
protection of general law. In many countries, potential claim on your policy.
2. Financial Health of your Business contracting parties are legally protected from
compensation claims in situations where an
Most businesses have taken a serious financial unforeseen event makes contractual One final thought. With all governments
hit from the Coronavirus. It is essential obligations impossible. In English law, for rightly focused on the pandemic, how realistic
therefore to take full advantage of the variety example, this legal protection is called is it for the UK Government to continue to
of national Government programmes now “Frustration”. insist that the Brexit transition period must
available. These may include: end on 31st December 2020? Like so many
•. Government payments for employees 4. Business Continuity and Future other issues affected by the Coronavirus, this
placed on furlough; Working Arrangements question is only likely to be answered when we
•. Financial support for the self-employed; begin to emerge from the current crisis -
•. Suspension of local business taxes; Although service delivery is severely restricted whenever that may be.
•. Deferment of VAT; by the pandemic and related lockdown rules,
•. Interest-free loans. most relocation businesses have been able to
maintain limited services by implementing
You should find full details of the financial their business continuity plans. These plans
assistance available to your business on your and associated “homeworking technology”
relevant government website. It may also be have proved to be invaluable for our industry.
possible to negotiate with the landlords of The question is: will businesses return to an
your business premises, either a deferment or office-based model when the pandemic is over
reduction in rent. or are we about to see a fundamental shift
away from employees being physically based
You should also consider whether it may be in offices?
worth trying to open similar discussions with There could also be reductions in volumes of Gordon Kerr
your key suppliers and contractors. However, it business travel and employee relocation as a
EuRA Strategic Consultant Legal
is not in anyone’s interests to force a further consequence of new working patterns and
squeeze on prices across supply chains when improved video-conference technology.
gordonkerr@gklegal.co.uk
16 - The EuRApean Spring 2020All Things Legal…
Gordon Kerr
March 2020 EuRA Strategic
Consultant -
Legal Services
I am no longer a citizen of the European Union …. and, like millions
of others, I am currently obliged by law to stay at home. So I hope
that you will understand my need to drown my sorrows with a very
fine old whisky.
Still, life will return to some kind of “normal” one day and I am sharing with you, in this legal
update, some thoughts on employee privacy rights, late payers, bribery ….. and, of course,
Brexit.
As we emerge from the depths of our northern European winter, it’s lovely to think of warmer
days just ahead. We know that, at a future date, an effective coronavirus vaccine will be
produced. Let’s continue to be resilient and look forward to better days ahead. I think we can all
drink to that!
Gordon Kerr
EuRA Strategic Consultant – Legal Services
(gordonkerr@gklegal.co.uk)
Brexit (1) – What Happens aspects of the EU’s future companies, known as "state
Next?? relationship with the UK, aid”.
such as tariff-free trade,
On 31st January, EU flags security sharing, financial For its part, the UK is very
came down in London and services and fishing rights. reluctant to agree to any
the Union Jack was folded But the EU’s starting point is such restrictions and has
away in Brussels. After many clear: being out can't be as legislated that the trade
twists and turns, Brexit has good as being in. deal must be concluded –
happened. We are now in a and transition period ended
transition phase, until the The EU will be pushing the – on 31 Dec 2020. This puts
end of this year, during need for a “level playing pressure on both sides and
which time the UK will field”, i.e. measures to may be a difficult deadline
continue to observe EU reduce the risk of EU to achieve, particularly
rules and nothing much will companies being undercut given the delays in getting
change. by British firms that benefit negotiations underway
from the Free Trade arising from coronavirus
Tricky negotiations ahead Agreement. The EU intends issues. There is still a real
that there should be future possibility that we will be
The centrepiece of the new rules covering taxation, faced with a no-deal Brexit
EU/UK relationship is employment rights and at the end of this year.
intended to be a Free Trade environmental policies, and
Agreement, covering all government support for Immigration
17 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Summing Up Many of these companies
Freedom of movement are household names. Sony
rights, already exercised by I can do no better than end and Panasonic, the
EU and UK citizens, have with a quote from The Japanese technology
been preserved. EU citizens Times: companies, are moving
who have moved to the UK “We know the rights of EU their European bases to the
before the transition period citizens in the UK will be Netherlands. Media
ends can continue to live preserved. We know companies, including
and work in the UK but must nothing will change for a Bloomberg and the
register (free of charge) by year. And we know that Discovery channel, are
30th June 2021. After the Northern Ireland will tread a moving some London-
transition period, EU different path from the rest based staff to Amsterdam.
citizens not already resident of the UK. Beyond that Gulfstream Aerospace has
in the UK will have no pretty much everything moved a logistics hub from
special immigration rights about the future relationship London to Amsterdam.
and will be subject to the with our closest neighbours Smaller companies are also
same “points based” is undecided and up for moving to protect their
immigration system as grabs”. European business. Rex
citizens of non-EU countries London, a gifts and
such as the US, China and homewares business, has
India. Brexit (2) - Good News for set up warehouses in the
Amsterdam and Dublin Netherlands. Press Red
UK nationals living legally in Rentals, a Telford-based
an EU country at the end of The Dutch government has equipment company, has
the transition period will be lured 140 UK-based opened a subsidiary in the
able to stay and enjoy the companies to the south-eastern Dutch city of
same rights to work and Netherlands since the Brexit Roermond.
reside as before. But referendum in 2016. 78 of These moves from the UK,
anyone arriving after the these business relocations by businesses of all shapes
end of this year will be have taken place in the last and sizes, reflect current
subject to each EU country's year alone, and 425 other anxiety about Britain’s
immigration rules. UK businesses are chances of securing a
understood to be waiting favourable trade deal
We don’t yet know what the for greater clarity on current before the end of the year.
post-transition EU-UK Free Trade In many cases it’s a hedge
arrangements will be for Agreement (FTA) talks against the continuing risk
many of the practical before committing to a of a “no deal” Brexit.
aspects of travelling Dutch move. The particular The relocation picture is
between the EU and the UK, attractions of the slightly different when it
such as medical cover, Netherlands for British comes to the UK’s huge
driving permits, mobile businesses are said to be financial sector, based
roaming charges and the stable political climate mainly in London. In this
travelling with pets. and high level of spoken sector, Dublin appears to be
English. the main beneficiary of
18 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Brexit, capturing around a their ex-employer, arguing workplace monitoring, it’s
third of all UK to EU that their right of privacy possible that Barclays could
relocations. The second had been breached and also have fallen foul of data
most popular destination is also that Spanish data protection law. Courts are
Luxembourg, followed by protection law, which generally reluctant to allow
Paris, Frankfurt and requires individuals to be employers to carry out staff
Amsterdam. The current informed about CCTV use, monitoring unless they can
prediction is that 5,000 had been breached. The show that this is necessary
financial jobs will move to Court decided that the and proportionate and
the EU from the UK as a employer had a legitimate does not severely impact
consequence of Brexit. reason (suspicion of serious employees' rights.
The outcome of FTA theft) to implement the Even global banks have to
negotiations will determine surveillance and took into comply with privacy rules!
whether these estimates of account that the
relocation volumes from surveillance continued only Late Payment of Invoices
the UK are accurate or just until the culprits were
the tip of a very large identified. Despite Late payment issues
iceberg. deciding in favour of the continue to plague the
employer in this case, the relocation industry and it
Employee Privacy Rights Court made it clear that, can be difficult to find
generally speaking, the practical ways of ensuring
A recent decision of the slightest suspicion of that invoices are paid on
European Court of Human wrongdoing would not time. A helpful ally in the
Rights (Lopez Ribalda v usually justify covert video UK is the Small Business
Spain) concerned the surveillance. Commissioner, who will
thorny issue of when it’s In the UK financial sector, mediate on behalf of
okay to use CCTV to similar arguments are companies with fewer than
monitor employees. In this raging about what is 50 staff that have payment
case an employer in Spain legitimate monitoring of disputes with large
set up covert CCTV staff. For example, Barclays businesses.
surveillance of staff in a has been forced to scrap a In a recent report, the
supermarket following computer monitoring Commissioner said that jet
concerns about the amount system that tracked the aircraft and train maker
of stock that was going time employees spent at Bombardier had been
missing. Goods valued at their desks and sent exploiting companies for at
over €82,000 had been warnings to those spending least two years. He found
taken over a five months too long on breaks. that six in ten of
period before the employer Barclays said axing the Bombardier’s invoices are
set up video surveillance. tracking system was a paid late, with suppliers
The surveillance was in response to "colleague waiting an average of 116
place for ten days and feedback", which is code days.
provided evidence of theft. for a horrendous backlash The Commissioner
As a result, several from angry employees! highlighted the
employees were dismissed. Aside from attracting bad mistreatment of one of
Some of the employees publicity by adopting a "Big Bombardier’s catering
raised court action against Brother" approach to suppliers. Bombardier
19 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Transportation UK failed to pay four invoices the government to create a “corruption-free”
to London-based Alistair Hugo Catering and country.
Events, running up a £5,600 debt. The Bribes were most commonly solicited when
supplier, which employs 26 staff, said that registering land or property, followed by
one of its invoices was 223 days overdue by dealing with the police and tax and electricity
the time it was settled. The caterer made officials. The survey, covering 20 of India’s 28
several attempts to resolve the issue but states, found that north-western Rajastan was
payment was only made once the the most corrupt, with 78 per cent reporting
Commissioner intervened. that they had paid some form of bribe. In
The Commissioner stated that the company’s Kerala, in the south, the figure fell to 10 per
payment performance was “simply cent. With 860 million people of working age
unacceptable”. It was “loud and clear that the in India, it suggests that more than 400
supply chain is being exploited” and that “this million bribes changed hands across the
has been the case for at least the last two country. Transparency International India
years”. Bombardier has agreed to review its concluded that corruption remained “part
payment practices and report to the and parcel of daily life in India”, particularly at
Commissioner within 60 days. the lower echelons of bureaucracy which, it
Hopefully this is the kind of direct action and said, was saturated with opportunities for
bad publicity that will make all large “bribery and kickbacks”.
companies think twice about exploiting their India is actually mid-table in the 2019
suppliers as a method of improving cash- Corruption Index (80th out of 180 countries),
flow. so is a long way from being among the worst
offending countries. For example, its anti-
Bribery in your supply chain corruption rating is better than other
countries with high relocation volumes, such
Anti-bribery laws can create challenges for all as Turkey, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico and
relocation businesses which sub-contract Russia.
work to suppliers in other countries. Bribery At the “good” end of the latest league table
carried out by your supplier can result in a are Denmark and New Zealand, followed
criminal prosecution for your business, even closely by Finland, Switzerland, Singapore
although you did not approve of the bribe and Sweden.
and had no knowledge of the payment. So As for India, despite the issues highlighted by
understanding the level of risk of bribery in a Transparency International, we can take
country where you are planning to appoint a comfort from the fact that our EuRA members
supplier is very important. The higher the risk, in India are all fantastic. And I wasn’t paid to
the more thorough your supplier risk say that!
assessment should be.
A recent report by Berlin-based,
Transparency International, the leading
global anti-corruption organisation, focused The Legal & Tax Report is produced for
on the extent of bribery in India. According to The EuRApean by Gordon Kerr, EuRA’s
their findings, more than half of Indians have Strategic Consultant - Legal Services.
paid a bribe to police or other government Gordon can be contacted at
officials in the past year despite a pledge by gordonkerr@gklegal.co.uk
20 - The EuRApean Spring 2020New Member Focus:
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21 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Feature:
“Today is the slowest it is going to be”
By Lauri Murphy & Susan Ginsberg
VUCA stands for Volatile, 25% of shopping malls will
Uncertain, Complex, close between 2017 and Brave new world
Ambiguous. It was coined by 2023. I know from living in Now if we now flip over to
the US Army College in the London, walking up any the global mobility/
late 1980s as they grappled typical high street in the relocation industry and ask
with a new reality as the capital, I am struck by the what the future could look
Berlin Wall came down and number of charity shops and like; it is foolhardy to predict
communism in Europe came cafes that have replaced it with any degree of
to an end. They were looking more traditional shops. The certainty. What we can say is
to understand what type of decimation of retail is it is an industry going
world they would be The Amazon Effect. In the through huge disruption.
operating in as they U.S., we sadly see fewer local The corporate global
approached the 21st century. boutiques, as many have mobility professional
Nowadays, the concept of been replaced by corporate currently has a focus on
VUCA is now deeply organisations that can somewhere between 1% and
embedded into corporate manage locals with high foot 3% of the workforce. If we
life. The impact of the Trump traffic. include frequent business
presidency, Brexit, and the Netflix, which started out as a travellers, this may see it rise
current concerns around DVD rental player, has not but still within single digits.
coronavirus (COVID-19) all only revolutionised the way This is coupled with the
point towards a more we watch TV but also how we demographic shift in the
precarious social, political spend disposable time. workplace and different type
and economic climate. Netflix saw off Blockbusters of movers all points to
(COVID-19) has already at a time when it was far and significant change for the
created significant upheaval away the market leader and role itself. For example, many
in financial markets with the seemingly untouchable. The millennials typically don’t
OECD warning the virus Netflix impact is also putting own their own home or have
presents the biggest threat the BBC's business model accumulated the amount of
to the global economy since under extreme pressure, as worldly household goods of
2008. the younger generation other generations. Therefore,
questions whether they they are more likely to rent
Amazon & Netflix should pay a license fee for a furniture from IKEA or
A report by Credit Swiss in service they barely use, if at another rental provider when
2017 predicted that 20% to all. they move.
22 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Corporations and the A recent survey by Alan landscape continually
mobility function are also Trippel saw over 20 evolves.
seeing a host of other move companies identifying What we can say with some
types that will reduce the themselves as RMCs. On degree of certainty is that
number of traditional long- examining many industries Companies that differentiate
term assignments (LTA), with there are typically a smaller themselves in a changing,
short term assignments, number of dominant players shrinking landscape and
commuters type moves and certainly fewer than 20. establish an innovation
popular in Europe and Further consolidation is roadmap will grow. Being
frequent business travel. inevitable as we wait and see collaborative, agile and
These move types, alongside how BGRS and others might consultative are vital to
one-way permanent moves, respond to the SIRVA/Cartus delivering successful
are all looking to be a more deal. The result may then outcomes. The need to move
cost-effective way of getting create more space for Tier II talent is still a real and
people where the company RMCs. necessary business
needs them. As technological innovations imperative. Service
continue to enter the organisations that adapt will
Survival of the fittest industry at a fast rate, DSPs thrive.
What does all this mean for are the next level of service
some of the key service providers that offer key
providers in the industry? services to assignees and
Relocation Management their families on the ground,
Companies (RMCs) have across the globe, many of
seen their traditional cash- whom work with RMCs as
cows, US home sale and LTA, well as have their own client Susan Ginsberg is based in
go into somewhat of a portfolio. These service New York and runs her own
decline. Traditional business providers are also coming consultancy firm SRG
models for RMCs are not under pressure as they are Advisory. Lauri Murphy is
sustainable; revenue from asked to do more with less in based in London and works
referral programmes, which the face of shrinking margins. as MD with TAIN Consulting
do not add any value beyond Ultimately, we don’t yet Ltd.
financial reward, are also know whether the future will Both are trusted partners to
coming under more scrutiny. belong to an Amazon-type corporate HR/Mobility
Furthermore, with player that will come to Leaders as well as to industry
procurement playing a more dominate the mobility service providers.
influential role than ever and industry for years to come.
a focus on cost like never Or if there will be a smaller
before, it begs the question: number of key players
where do key mobility serving the changing
providers, especially RMCs, mobility needs of the
go from here? How do they population, while offering
differentiate themselves? others the space to carve out
How do they achieve their their own niche as the
own business growth?
23 - The EuRApean Spring 2020Feature: “Business After Brexit: Visas and Immigration Explained” White Paper from Newland Chase After more than three years of negotiations, political division, speculation, and uncertainty – the United Kingdom officially exited the European Union on January 31 at 11pm. For all the anticipation, February 1 saw virtually no noticeable change from January 31. That is because the UK and EU entered into an 11-month “transition period” until December 31, 2020 in which the current relationship continues practically unchanged. The existing freedom of movement and cross-border mobility rules between the UK and EU member states remain largely in effect. What Happens Now? broad, limited or no EU, and actionable That is by no means the agreements, or an guidance for companies end of the speculation. extension of the to take now. The unanswered transition period beyond question remains: “What December 31, 2020. The During the Transition happens after December UK government has Period 31?” Starting in March, already stated it does not Until December 31, negotiators from the UK want an extension. 2020, free movement of and EU will begin to Despite this 11-month UK and EU member state work out the answer to pause on any real citizens continues. There that question. Should practical changes, there are no changes in the negotiations fail to arrive is still much individuals current rights of UK and at agreement between and organizations in the EU nationals to live and the UK and EU by UK and EU must do now work in the UK and the December 31 – we could to prepare for the various EU and still face much of the coming post-Brexit European Economic same uncertain Europe. Despite many Area states. outcomes that we remaining questions, experienced leading up here is our quick look at - EU citizens in the UK to Brexit day. We could the current status of EU citizens in the UK still reach the end of the business immigration continue to have the transition period with and visas in the UK and right to travel to and to 24 - The EuRApean Spring 2020
live and work in the UK. will generally be eligible proposed a new
EU citizens arriving in the for settled status. immigration policy,
UK before December 31 slated for
have until June 30, 2021 - UK citizens in the EU implementation in
to register through the The various EU member January 2021. Under this
EU Settlement Scheme, states have begun to new policy, EU nationals
and may obtain either implement their own will be treated the same
“settled status” or “pre- country-specific as non-EU nationals. The
settled status”. Family processes for UK key points are as follows:
members in a nationals to obtain • Suspending the annual
relationship with an EU normalized status within cap on skilled workers
citizen before December their borders. The rules (currently 20,700);
31 will be able to join and processes vary by • Removing the resident
those with settled status EU member state. In labour market test;
at any future date. some countries, • Allowing employers to
Settled Status is for those registration of UK sponsor skilled foreign
with five years of nationals is mandatory. workers at lower salaries
residence in the UK. It In others, UK nationals in and skill levels than
grants the EU national the country obtain their currently;
Indefinite Leave to normalized status by • Reducing the salary
Remain (ILR). The holder automatic right. threshold for new
can leave the UK for up entrants by 30%;
to five years and retain After the Transition • Reducing the salary
this status. Period threshold for shortage
Pre-Settled Status In general, both the UK occupations and highly-
provides a pathway to and the EU member skilled workers;
settlement for those who states must establish • Presenting the rules
have yet to qualify for rules and processes to balancing shortage
settled status. It is govern UK and EU occupations, high
intended for those with citizens arriving in their qualifications and
less than five years of respective countries minimum salaries as a
residence in the UK. It after the transition points-based system,
grants the EU national period. with a total of 70 points
five years of leave to required to be eligible to
remain after which they In the UK, the apply;
government has
25 - The EuRApean Spring 2020• Expanding the pilot currently. Various EU- however, entry
scheme for seasonal wide policies and requirements for UK
agricultural workers to directives, in some cases citizens to the Schengen
10,000 places; not previously area after the transition
• Including students, but applicable to UK period will include:
not family reunion or nationals, will now apply, • Passports must have a
asylum, in the points- including: validity of at least six
based system; • Blue Cards; months;
• No special route for • Intra-corporate Transfer • They must be able to
lower-skilled workers or permits and processes; justify the purpose of
self-employed people; • Van der Elst case law. travel;
• The new Global Talent • They must show
route has already Business travel is the one financial means for their
replaced the Tier 1 area where we have a stay;
(Exceptional Talent) more solid idea of • They must have an
itinerary for their
stay;
• They must have
comprehensive
sickness insurance;
and
• They must prove
the stay will not
exceed 90 days in
180 days.
What Should
route for top scientists, requirements for UK
Employers Be Doing
researchers and citizens in the EU due to
Now?
mathematicians. the EU’s common visa
While specific processes
policy for the Schengen
will become clearer
In the EU, UK nationals area. UK citizens will be
throughout the year as
arriving to the EU after able to stay in the whole
UK-EU negotiations
the transition period are of the Schengen area on
progress and firm
expected to be under tourism or business
immigration policies are
the visa and immigration status for up to 90 out of
announced, there are
formalities that third- each 180 days. They will
general actions
country nationals face not require a visa for this,
26 - The EuRApean Spring 2020You can also read
