TALENT


Self-initiated moves in the gig economy


Worldwide ERC London Summit 2017 panellist Ged Gibson talks to Ruth Holmes about the key themes around multinational technology conglomerate Cisco’s alignment of demographic change and business need through its mobility offer.


S


elf-initiated moves are an established element of Cisco’s mobility policy portfolio. “Typically, self-initiated moves


take place for one of a number of reasons,” explains Ged Gibson, relocation partner at the global IT and networking services provider, setting the scene ahead of a discussion at Worldwide ERC’s London Summit in February. “Self-initiated moves can be for personal


reasons – to follow a partner or spouse, for example – for compliance purposes from an immigration perspective, or for career development.” Self-initiated moves at Cisco, where


they are possible, are one way and a straightforward transfer to local employment. This is standard across the industry. Cisco’s employer support is limited to the minimum mandatory aspects of the employment relationship, such as with immigration and taxation. Again, this is standard industry practice.


Change on the horizon? Yet, ref lecting the changing dynamic of the employment relationship – where flexibility, agility and value (in both senses) are watchwords – mobility support at Cisco is headed towards a more blended approach. For its population of employees looking


for a straight transfer for career development reasons, the tech firm is starting to reshape its overall policy to a more streamlined and personalised cafeteria-style approach. In a change from the current tiered set


of policies, the developments are geared to offer some assignees and the business a spectrum of personalised support dependent on personal circumstance, budget constraints and the nature of the assignment. There is also a new approach aimed


particularly at high-potential candidates, who are encouraged to volunteer for an up-


18 | Re:locate | Spring 2017


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44