In the past, businesses would often rely on the physical presence of their employees to take care of day-to-day tasks. With modern advances in technology however, it’s now more possible than ever before to take on an international expert and have them contribute to the level of company performance with minimal fuss. Why might you want to do this? From saving money, right through to receiving an international expert’s skills and capabilities; the options can be endless. In this article, we’ll be getting to grips with how hiring an employee from abroad could benefit your business.
How Can You Hire An International Employee?
There are a few methods available, but one of the most prominent is using an international professional employer organization for HR processes, as they will typically take care of the formalities associated with the hiring process. Often referred to as a Professional Organization Employer, or PEO for short, these agencies take care of the finer details associated with legal employment, payment, the following of legislation, and more when it comes to hiring someone from abroad.
As you might imagine, different countries often have varying laws in place for their workers. A PEO can help to all but negate the risk of legalities arising by ensuring that all international rules and stipulations are adhered to, allowing the business owner to hire the right person for the job and then relax in the knowledge that the technicalities will be taken care of by the PEO on their behalf.
Why Can Hiring Someone From Abroad Be Beneficial?
There can be a number of reasons why you might want to hire abroad – the most common include:
- The cost of local workers, especially if minimum wages are high in your country
- The availability of employees nearby
- The skillset and qualifications of local candidates
Although there are several other reasons to hire an international employee, these are some of the most prominent. We’ll be taking a look at each one mentioned above in a little more detail below.
Saving Money on Salaries
As harsh as it might sound to admit – there are some countries that provide lower wages to their workers and as a result, many of them will study hard so that they don’t have to rely on the minimum wages in their home locations. As a result, many of them go on to become experts in their fields and although specialists, they will likely accept a lower salary than those from countries like the USA, the UK, Australia, and others where the wages are higher.
This can offer potential to business owners to save money by hiring someone international that will appreciate the income, while providing their expertise in return.
Employee Availability
Another common problem that employers face is the availability of potential candidates in their given area. Many aren’t willing to commute and others simply won’t accept roles outside of their location. As a result, hiring from abroad can be beneficial, whether the position is remote or requires a physical presence. As international employees are often readily available for work, their availability will likely be appealing, with the added bonus that many experts may be fighting for the position, increasing demand.
Not only can availability locally be an issue for employers, but it also combines with the above point relating to salaries, benefits, and wages.
Skills and Qualifications
Another excellent reason to seek an international employee is the fact that many of them begin their studies at a very early age, allowing them time to go on to become industry leaders. Getting one of these individuals (or even an international team) on board can completely change the way that a business operates, allowing for a multitude of new opportunities for company owners to expand into new markets or enhance the way in which they function in general.
As long as the individual is in possession of qualifications from a licensed and accredited educational institute, you can rest assured that they’ll be capable of handling the tasks that they have been assigned.
Why Use a PEO?
As you may be able to tell from above, there is a wide range of factors that will need to be considered – and this can be overwhelming for employers who simply don’t have the time, the patience, or the technical knowledge to take care of these hiring requirements. This is why so many turn to PEO services for help with taking care of the technicalities like the employment of record, taxes, payroll, and more (and when they don’t offer these services, other similar options can be invested in instead).
Not only will they be able to act as the ‘middle-person’ when it comes to establishing a connection between employer and their potential employee, but they will also have a firm understanding of international law to ensure that all activities, conduct, and protocol are adhered to. This won’t just reduce the risk of legal issues arising – it can also help to keep the businesses’ operations on track, potentially allowing them to branch out into international markets as their knowledge-base increases. These are all things that a PEO can help to manage with their skills in on and offboarding.
Hiring someone from abroad was risky once upon a time, what with many scammers and con artists looking for professional organizations to take advantage of. Fortunately, and with the increase in protective legislation and other factors, it’s never been safer, so the only problem potentially faced by an employer will relate to deciding to take the step towards hiring someone from abroad to help with their needs. This could be a third-party design agency that will receive work to be outsourced or an IT specialist capable of handling tasks in a remote setting where they can do what they do best, without having to travel to your country to perform their role. The options are almost endless and if one thing is for certain, it’s just how advantageous taking on a PEO service can be to save time, reduce costs and expenses, and find the ideal candidate for the position with minimal fuss.
