As international hiring gains traction, so too does the Employer of Record (EOR) market. It’s pretty saturated, to say the least. While choice is a good thing, it can be hard to pick the best provider for your business. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
Every EOR provider has its own unique selling point, but there are five main qualities you should look out for in a potential vendor:
- Intelligent automation combined with human expertise
- Excellent employee experience
- Worldwide coverage
- Great value for money
- Agility & proactivity
So, let’s go into more detail about why these qualities matter and how to identify them as you search for your ideal EOR partner.
Intelligent Automation Combined with Human Expertise
Back in the day, EOR providers relied heavily on manual processes. That made onboarding new talent slow and cumbersome. Not what you need when you’re trying to build the best team fast and have highly skilled candidates with other offers on the table. But in the age of automation, many EORs have become more tech-focused. The best ones use all-in-one platforms or apps to centralize data, automate key processes, and provide a one-stop shop for all your global hiring needs. They integrate with your existing HR systems and give you on-demand access to essential information and advanced reporting. Because ultimately, you need these tech smarts for speed and cost-effectiveness.
However, a complete reliance on tech isn’t good either; it can lead to poor employee experience and headaches down the line. International employment is highly complex. Each jurisdiction has its own employment laws, and regulations vary considerably from one country to the next - and from one day to the next. That’s why you can’t solely rely on tech; it’s always best to have human experts on standby with an in-depth understanding of compliance, payroll, and benefits within each jurisdiction you hire in. Unlike tech, humans can help you deal with non-standard situations and answer complex questions about visa requirements, IP legislation, standardized benefits, and more while providing a high-quality experience throughout the entire employee lifecycle. A combination of the two is ideal; automation where appropriate, human expertise where needed.
Excellent Employee Experience
Hiring internationally opens up your business to a wealth of opportunities. You can tap into world-class talent and expand into lucrative new markets. But if the employee experience isn’t up to scratch, you’ll struggle to reap the rewards (and retain top talent). So you need to find an EOR vendor that makes this a priority.
As a minimum, your EOR should have a friendly support team that is on hand to answer any questions your international hires may have about onboarding, payslips, benefits, and more. Ideally, they should be available across multiple time zones to ensure employees receive timely communication, no matter where they’re based. And above all, your chosen EOR should provide a smooth and streamlined process throughout the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding.
Worldwide Coverage
The best EOR provider for your business is also the provider that can accommodate all your hiring needs. And that means they support all the countries you want to hire in. Many EOR services around the world focus on one local jurisdiction or region. For example, they only help you hire talent in France. That’s great if you’re only looking to tap into French talent, but it’s not so good if you’re recruiting globally.
One solution is to partner with multiple EOR providers that provide adequate coverage between them. But managing all those vendors can get very time-consuming - not to mention complex. Instead, it’s best to look for an EOR partner that has worldwide coverage. That way, you’re not limited should you choose to hire in more countries in the future.
Great Value for Money
Part of the draw of using an EOR is to save money on operational costs. It frees up your HR team to focus on bigger projects that generate more ROI. That’s why it’s important to partner with an EOR that offers great value for money and no hidden fees.
The EOR market is pretty varied when it comes to pricing; some are really expensive, while others are much cheaper. But neither end of that scale is a surefire way to get a good EOR - or a good deal. When it comes to value for money, you have to consider the total cost for your business. That includes the base pricing, of course, but it also includes things like time savings, flexibility, and accuracy. How much time and care does your EOR spend on contract drafting and revisions, employee communications, and fantastic customer support that will ultimately save your business time and money in the long run? That’s harder to put a price tag on, but it’s equally as important. You want an EOR that can provide a top-quality service without throwing curveball fees, cutting corners, or breaking the bank.
Agility & Proactivity
The best companies in the world are agile and proactive; they know when to pivot and react to external factors to maximize growth and productivity. EORs are the same. International hiring isn’t straightforward and stagnant - it’s changeable and sometimes unpredictable. So you need an EOR provider that can keep up with that - and with your tight onboarding schedules.
When evaluating EORs, look out for their ability to respond to questions quickly, onboard talent with efficiency, and provide enough flexibility to suit your unique business needs. A call with a member of their team should reveal enough to help you whittle down the options. Then, take a look at their reviews and case studies - what do their current clients say?
A high-quality EOR provider is a true partner, not just a vendor. They make you aware of specific labor laws and compliance risks associated with employment in each country, and they proactively reach out to you if and when there are changes to laws and regulations that affect your international hires. In other words, the best EOR partners give you peace of mind and make your job simpler.
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