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| 3 minute read

Living Well, Working Better: How Quality of Living Data Enhances Global Assignments

Mercer's latest Quality of Living City Ranking is out! The index provides essential insights into the daily living conditions for expatriates and their families across various cities. This information is invaluable for global mobility leaders and teams, offering several key benefits:

Informed Assignment Planning: By understanding the quality of living in potential assignment locations, organizations can make strategic decisions that align with both business objectives and employee well-being. This ensures that assignees are placed in environments that support their productivity and satisfaction.

Enhanced Employee Support: Access to healthcare, education, and infrastructure enables mobility programs to tailor support packages effectively. This customization addresses the unique needs of assignees and their families, facilitating smoother transitions and better overall experiences.

Strategic Policy Development: Using comprehensive quality of living data allows organizations to develop policies that are competitive and equitable. This strategic approach not only aids in attracting and retaining top talent but also ensures compliance with international standards and practices.

Having your program review this index can support global mobility strategies and empower your program to better navigate international assignments. According to Mercer's 2024 Quality of Living City Ranking, the top 10 cities are:

These cities are recognized for exceptional living conditions, safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and cultural amenities. Notably, Zurich's top position is attributed to its outstanding public services, low crime rates, vibrant cultural scene, and commitment to sustainability.

On the flip side, it is also good to understand why certain cities place in the bottom tier for quality of living. These locations often include cities in Africa and the Middle East — Sanaa (Yemen), Bangui (Central African Republic), Baghdad (Iraq), and Khartoum (Sudan), which rank 238th, 239th, 240th, and 241st, respectively. Here's why you might want to pay attention to the lower ranks of the QOL index:

1. Mitigating Risks and Challenges

  • Safety and Security: Lower-ranked locations often face challenges such as higher crime rates, political instability, or inadequate healthcare. Being aware of these issues allows organizations to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of employees and their families.
  • Compliance: Some locations may have complex or evolving regulations around visas, taxation, or employment that need special care to avoid compliance issues.

2. Tailoring Support for Assignees

  • Customized Packages: Employees in lower-ranked cities may require additional allowances or benefits, such as private healthcare, secure housing, or enhanced relocation services, to offset the challenges of the location.
  • Emotional Support: Employees and their families in tough locations may need help with cultural acclimation, language training, and mental health support to ease transitions and reduce stress. This is doubly true for employees with families. 

3. Boosting Success Rates

  • Assignment Failures: Poor living conditions can lead to higher assignment failure rates if employees and their families are unable to adapt. By understanding the challenges of lower-ranked locations, organizations can provide resources that enhance resilience and increase the likelihood of success.
  • Retention: Addressing quality-of-life concerns can improve employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.

4. Strategic Decision-Making

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis: Some low-ranked locations may be critical for business operations. Understanding the trade-offs between strategic importance and employee satisfaction can help leaders make informed decisions about staffing and investment.
  • Policy Development: Insights from lower-ranked locations can guide the development of global policies that promote equity, ensuring that all assignees receive the support they need, regardless of location.

5. Employer Branding and Reputation

  • By demonstrating care and commitment to employees in challenging locations, organizations enhance their reputation as an employer of choice. This can be a differentiator in attracting top talent for global roles.

Understanding the dynamics of locations with different qualities of living allows mobility programs to anticipate potential challenges, take care of your employees and assignees, and create strategies for supporting business objectives alongside employee needs. This aligns closely with an organization’s duty of care responsibilities, as it demonstrates a commitment to the safety, well-being, and overall satisfaction of employees.

In 2024, the landscape of global cities continues to evolve, reflecting the dynamic interplay of economic, social and environmental factors that shape our urban experiences. The latest Quality of Living City Ranking highlights the cities that stand out for their exceptional living standards, robust infrastructure and vibrant cultural scenes. We consider many factors in creating our proprietary ranking model, including housing, recreation, socio-cultural environment, purchasing conventions, travel, traffic, air quality and access to education.