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Why Well-Being is the Heart of Global Mobility Success
Embracing Human-Centered Mobility
Global relocation goes far beyond just a logistical exercise; it’s a deeply human journey. Relocating employees and their families face challenges including cultural disorientation, disrupted support networks, and emotional strain. If unaddressed, these challenges can impact both personal well-being and assignment success.
Recent research, including McKinsey’s Future of Wellness report, shows that younger generations expect employers to actively support their mental, emotional, and physical health. For global mobility leaders, this makes well-being not just an ethical responsibility, but a strategic imperative.
Sirva’s Hannah Richardson, Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Services and WERC Service Provider Advisory Council member, recently wrote an article for WERC, Prioritizing Employee Well-Being in Global Moves, exploring how embedding employee well-being into global mobility policies transforms transitions into opportunities for growth, resilience, and long-term organizational success. The following are a few of the key highlights from the article.
Key Moments of Vulnerability
Relocation is a cycle of transitions. Employees may feel anxious when first informed of an assignment, stressed during the pack-up stage, overwhelmed when acclimating abroad, and disoriented upon repatriation. Each phase requires targeted support to ease the transition and foster resilience.
The Business Case
Embedding well-being into mobility programs leads to higher engagement, lower attrition, and greater assignment success. Companies that prioritize wellness also outperform peers in productivity, innovation, and retention.
A Framework for Action
Organizations can support employees at every stage with structured, life-cycle-based solutions:
 | Pre-Assignment: Emotional readiness coaching and family inclusion |
 | Pre-Departure: Transition support, housing, and community connections |
 | On Assignment: Access to local wellness resources, cultural integration, and ongoing coaching |
 | Repatriation: Reverse culture support, career reintegration, and recognition of the employee’s contributions |
By embedding well-being into every stage of relocation, organizations build trust, resilience, and long-term success - for both employees and the business. To learn more, read the full article on WERC’s website.
Ready to build strategies that balance professional opportunity with human care? Contact Sirva’s Global Advisory Services team at GlobalAdvisory@sirva.com to learn more.