Other considerations

Events over the past few months and years have provided frequent reminder that the world we live in continues to produce challenges and obstacles which impact our personal safety. Whether this increased threat is perceived or real, the outcome is the same: mobility in the modern world is now viewed through the lens of turmoil. Whilst this perceived threat continues to rise, so too does international business travel. A report by World Economic Forum (2018) suggests cross-border travel will grow by 50% over the next decade and reach 1.8 billion international arrivals by 2030. This increase in international travel is also seen in the workplace, with more employers than ever before sending their staff abroad. The workforce is no longer a static, controlled concept. An employer’s response to employee welfare and security must respond to this. This report asks the question: How do we safeguard mobile employees in an ever more fragile global environment?

The risk profile of business travellers has grown significantly over the last few years as
‘informal mobility’, also known as traveling/moving for work outside of a formal
assignment, has become more frequent and in some organisations partly replaced more
formal expatriate arrangements. While most organisations recognise these mounting
challenges and risks, many are still struggling to manage their mobile population due to
a lack of ownership over business travellers.

The world of tax as we know it is changing. Dealing with globalisation and the digitalisation of the economy is posing taxpayers and policymakers a significant headache. What is feeding this tension, and where might we end up? More importantly, what should businesses be doing to engage with these changes and prepare themselves? PwC’s David Murray and Alenka Turnsek seek to answer these important questions.

The risk profile of business travellers has grown significantly over the last few years as ‘informal mobility’ has grown and in some organisations partly replaced more formal expatriate arrangements. The areas of risk – personal tax, immigration, employment law, corporate tax and cost, retention and personal safety – are similar to those that apply to more formal expat arrangements but there tends to be less structure and process in place to manage these risks.

BEPS, PE and immigration risks, employment tax, government regulations, individual traveler expenses, mobility policies – there’s an incredible amount of information to manage when it comes to business travel.

We wanted to understand better how organisations are tackling the challenges of global mobility and managing the risks posed by the BEPS recommendations; our survey of informal mobility management completed by 224 companies in 26 countries suggests that there’s still important work to be done.

International businesses need a globally mobile workforce and while technology developments such as virtual meetings and video conferencing can reduce the need to be on a plane, they also open up new developments, such as virtual teams and home working and there is likely now a wealth of data on employee whereabouts available within your organisation.

By Clare Coley. Imagine spending your spare time in a chalet in France; skiing in the winter, day trips to the South coast with your family (who love the outdoor lifestyle), a glass of wine in the warm setting sun, views over the mountains….