"Geopolitical instability is now a structural feature of global workforce planning, not a one-off disruption," says Jim McCoy of Atlas.

Even modest shifts in how HR work is organized through shared services can create efficiency gains and a better employee experience.

The workforce holding everything together in the Middle East—cleaners, drivers and more—still seem invisible when they really shouldn't be.

"In times of geopolitical uncertainty, attempting to predict events is less important than preparing for rapid change," says Georg Winter, CEO of risk advisory firm GrECo.