It’s no secret that the global pandemic has caused great disruption to manufacturing and logistics — supply chains — throughout the world. Many merchants are urging online shoppers to plan ahead, especially with demand as high as ever. For example, Singles Day — the November 11th holiday which had already become the biggest shopping day in the world — still broke previous years’ sales records in 2020.

Here are five things you can do to make the most of your online shopping experiences:

1.  For your online purchases, use a globally accepted credit card that does not draw funds directly from your bank account. Review all credit card issuer documentation, as well as your invoices when they become available.

2.  When purchasing items via auction or marketplace websites, evaluate seller information and policies before bidding. Know what resources the service provides for buyers, and what recourse is available to you if needed.

3.  If shopping on a website in another country, familiarize yourself with importation laws and restrictions in the country where items will be received. Your purchases may be subject to inspection and tariffs, and the recipient may need to pick them up at the customs agent. Know that in many countries it is against the law to ship items abroad without an enclosed invoice.

4.  Be wary of email requests, even if the sender claims to be representing a legitimate business or service. You may want to contact the service directly to confirm the request, via telephone or on-site chat service, before clicking on any links or responding to it.

5.  Choose merchants who ship using trackable methods. When possible, use a shipping address that allows for indoor, monitored delivery. Some larger online retailers offer the option to pick up items from a local store or locker service.

Written by Erin Fitzgerald, GMS, Content Manager

The skills that make us successful in our jobs have changed due to continued remote work.  And remote working – in some form — is not going anyway any time soon.  A KPMG survey found that 80% of U.S. workers would turn down a job opportunity if it did not include flexible working option.  So how can we be successful and thrive?

Here are some skills you need to be a good remote worker:

1. Teamwork – Most workers continue to be part of a larger team, so even though you are remote, you are not working separately.  Finding a balance between video meetings, phone calls, and emailing is important so overwhelm doesn’t set in.  Shared documents and project management software are a good way to let teams share updates and documentation.
2. Clear communication – Working remotely means that almost all the communication between a team is through email or messaging apps.  Being able to communicate clearly and succinctly will go a long way in getting your ideas across.  Good communication skills are a foundation for team success.
3. Time management – Self-motivation and time management often go together. It’s easy to get sidetracked working remotely.  Many productivity coaches suggest carving out a period for intense work followed by a break.  If you’re used to working in an office, you would have been able to chat with co-workers during a break.  Now, plan you breaks in advance so you have something to look forward to.
4. Focus – Distractions are numerous working from home.  From outside noises of a garbage truck, construction, or lawn mowers to indoor sounds of children, pets, or other adults, the list of distractions is endless.  Learning how to remain focused is a skill to develop.  Setting up a quiet space, devoid of clutter, and some good noise cancelling headphones will go a long way to maintain your focus.
5. Adapt – Challenges will always come up and how you deal with them will affect the success of your team.  Maybe a big storm will knock a colleague’s internet out right before a big project is due.  Flexibility and creative problem solving will lead to a solution.  If you’re suddenly assigned to a new team, you will need to adapt to their way of working.
6. Trustworthy – Research has found that employees who are trusted are better at teamwork and more productive.  When working in a team, the most important aspect is to set clear goals and objectives, be transparent, and communicate often. Feedback during the process is very important.

The KMPG survey also found that employees believed that working remotely increased their focus and productivity. As we continue to hone our skills of teamwork, communication, time management, focus, adaptation, and trustworthiness, the future will be filled with much success for employees, their teams, and ultimately our companies.

The skills that make us successful in our jobs have changed due to continued remote work.  And remote working – in some form — is not going anyway any time soon.  A KPMG survey found that 80% of U.S. workers would turn down a job opportunity if it did not include flexible working option.  So how can we be successful and thrive?

Here are some skills you need to be a good remote worker:

1. Teamwork – Most workers continue to be part of a larger team, so even though you are remote, you are not working separately.  Finding a balance between video meetings, phone calls, and emailing is important so overwhelm doesn’t set in.  Shared documents and project management software are a good way to let teams share updates and documentation.
2. Clear communication – Working remotely means that almost all the communication between a team is through email or messaging apps.  Being able to communicate clearly and succinctly will go a long way in getting your ideas across.  Good communication skills are a foundation for team success.
3. Time management – Self-motivation and time management often go together. It’s easy to get sidetracked working remotely.  Many productivity coaches suggest carving out a period for intense work followed by a break.  If you’re used to working in an office, you would have been able to chat with co-workers during a break.  Now, plan you breaks in advance so you have something to look forward to.
4. Focus – Distractions are numerous working from home.  From outside noises of a garbage truck, construction, or lawn mowers to indoor sounds of children, pets, or other adults, the list of distractions is endless.  Learning how to remain focused is a skill to develop.  Setting up a quiet space, devoid of clutter, and some good noise cancelling headphones will go a long way to maintain your focus.
5. Adapt – Challenges will always come up and how you deal with them will affect the success of your team.  Maybe a big storm will knock a colleague’s internet out right before a big project is due.  Flexibility and creative problem solving will lead to a solution.  If you’re suddenly assigned to a new team, you will need to adapt to their way of working.
6. Trustworthy – Research has found that employees who are trusted are better at teamwork and more productive.  When working in a team, the most important aspect is to set clear goals and objectives, be transparent, and communicate often. Feedback during the process is very important.

The KMPG survey also found that employees believed that working remotely increased their focus and productivity. As we continue to hone our skills of teamwork, communication, time management, focus, adaptation, and trustworthiness, the future will be filled with much success for employees, their teams, and ultimately our companies.

Written by Cathy Heyne, GMS-T, President

Do you feel like the world is in flux? Between the pandemic, social injustice, global human rights, and environmental and climate-related issues, we all have much to consider.  In pre-pandemic offices, seeing a colleague face to face and noting their body language would tell us a lot about how they were feeling.  Working remotely, we all must try a little harder. That’s why Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is even more important than ever. EQ focuses on understanding our emotions and the emotions of those around us and dealing with them in the best way possible.

How can we evolve in this changing work environment to best support our mobile workforce?  The key is employee engagement. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two from the relocation world.  Those involved in employee relocation experiences must have a high EQ given the challenges of a move. From household goods shipments and real estate transactions to immigration approval and tax compliance issues, all must be handled with a level of sensitivity.

Successful mobility programs utilize these EQ traits:

• Empathy and active listening
• Emotional maturity
• Awareness and inclusion
• Honesty and humility
• Anticipation and intuition

With experience and communication, these traits can be learned.

High EQ mobility professionals know it’s important to work with service providers who share the same philosophy.  Some things to consider:

• Do they communicate new developments, identify challenges, and solve problems in a timely manner?
• Are they flexible and open to a mobile employee suggestions, requests, concerns, and feedback?
• Can they express empathy, so mobile employees know that they are emotionally and logistically supported?
• Will they show compassion in the face of extreme stress during relocation?

By virtue of the job, Global Mobility teams already respond to mobile employees with the empathy and support that is necessary for a successful relocation. Continuing to champion the same EQ traits in dealing with remote and mobile employees will help HR professionals weather the current state of global business, bringing much success to relocation programs in the future.

Written by Cathy Heyne, GMS-T