Move Talent Across Borders With Global Mobility Services
Global mobility services help businesses hire, relocate and manage employees across countries while addressing employment, immigration, payroll, benefits and compliance requirements.
For companies expanding internationally, the right global mobility approach can make it easier to access international talent without creating unnecessary administrative complexity. Depending on the country, workforce structure and business needs, an Employer of Record (EOR) can provide a practical employment structure for hiring or supporting employees without establishing a local employing entity.
Let’s see when you need one and how to apply it for your companies.
What Is Global Mobility?
Global mobility refers to the processes, policies and services used to manage employees and workforce activities across international borders.
More Than Employee Relocation
Global mobility can extend beyond traditional expatriate relocation. It may support different types of international workforce activities, from hiring employees in another country to managing international assignments and workforce expansion.
A Broader Approach to International Workforce Management
A global mobility strategy brings together employment, immigration, payroll, benefits and compliance considerations to support employees working across borders.
What Can Global Mobility Include?
Hiring employees in another country
Relocating existing employees
Managing international assignments
Supporting immigration and work authorization
Administering global payroll and benefits
Managing employment-related compliance
Supporting workforce expansion into new markets
What Should a Global Mobility Program Consider?
A global mobility program should reflect the circumstances of each employee and assignment. Requirements can vary depending on the employee’s location, employment structure, assignment type and applicable local requirements.
Employee Location
Employment Structure
Assignment Type
Local Requirements
What Do Global Mobility Services Include?
The scope of global mobility services varies by country and provider, but businesses commonly need support across several areas of international workforce management.
International Hiring
Businesses entering a new market may need to hire employees before they have an established local employing entity.
Global mobility support can include:
- Local employment arrangements
- Employment documentation
- Onboarding administration
- Payroll setup
- Country-specific employment requirements
An EOR can provide a local employment structure where appropriate, while the client continues to manage the employee’s day-to-day work.
Employee Relocation
Relocating an employee across borders can involve employment, immigration and administrative considerations.
Global mobility support may include:
- International assignment administration
- Employment documentation
- Relocation coordination
- Changes to compensation or benefits
- Destination-country employment requirements
Immigration & Work Authorization
Employees working in another country may require appropriate visas or work authorization.
Requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Businesses should assess:
- Visa requirements
- Work authorization
- Employment documentation
- Assignment duration
- Employee eligibility
Where immigration support is required, the appropriate professional or local authority should be involved.
Global Payroll
Cross-border employees may create additional payroll and statutory administration requirements.
Support can include:
- Payroll administration
- Salary processing
- Statutory deductions
- Employer contributions
- Payroll documentation
- Employment-related reporting
Compensation & Benefits
International employees may require compensation and benefits arrangements appropriate to their employment location and assignment.
Considerations can include:
- Base salary
- Statutory benefits
- Employer-provided benefits
- Allowances
- Relocation-related compensation
- Local employment conditions
Employment Compliance
Each country has its own employment requirements. Global mobility programs should account for applicable rules relating to employment contracts, payroll, working conditions, benefits, statutory contributions and termination.
- Employment requirements
- Payroll obligations
- Working conditions
- Benefits and statutory contributions
- Termination requirements
Key Takeaway
Global mobility is not a single service. It is a coordinated approach to managing the employment and workforce requirements created by operating across borders.
When Do Businesses Need Global Mobility Services?
Global mobility services can be useful when international workforce requirements become difficult to manage through existing HR processes.
Common situations include:
| Business situation | Why global mobility support may help |
|---|---|
| Entering a new market | Provides a structured approach to international employment |
| Hiring overseas talent | Helps address local employment and payroll requirements |
| Relocating employees | Coordinates employment and mobility considerations |
| Managing expatriates | Supports cross-border employment administration |
| Expanding a distributed workforce | Helps manage employees across multiple jurisdictions |
| Testing a new market | An EOR may provide an alternative to immediately establishing a local entity |
How Does an EOR Support Global Mobility?
An Employer of Record (EOR) can support certain global mobility requirements by providing a local employment structure in a country where the client does not have its own employing entity.
Under an EOR arrangement:
FastLaneRecruit → employs the worker locally
Client company → manages the employee’s role and day-to-day work
Depending on the country and service scope, EOR support may include:
- Local employment contracts
- Payroll administration
- Statutory contributions
- Benefits administration
- Employee onboarding
- Employment documentation
- Employment changes and offboarding
What Are the Costs of Global Mobility?
There is no single cost for global mobility services. Total costs depend on the destination country, employee circumstances, assignment structure and services required.
Key cost factors include:
| Cost factor | What may affect the cost |
|---|---|
| Employment | Salary and statutory employer costs |
| Payroll | Payroll administration and reporting |
| Immigration | Visa and work authorization requirements |
| Relocation | Travel, accommodation and moving arrangements |
| Benefits | Statutory and employer-provided benefits |
| Tax | Applicable employee and employer obligations |
| Employment structure | EOR fees or local entity operating costs |
How to Build a Global Mobility Program
An effective global mobility program should align workforce objectives with the requirements of each destination country.
Define the Business Requirement
Determine whether the need involves:
- International hiring
- Employee relocation
- Short-term assignment
- Long-term employment
- Market expansion
- Remote international work
Assess Country Requirements
Review relevant:
- Employment regulations
- Immigration requirements
- Payroll obligations
- Statutory contributions
- Benefits
- Tax considerations
Choose the Employment Structure
Depending on the circumstances, options may include:
- Existing local entity
- Employer of Record
- Another appropriate employment arrangement
Plan the Employee Lifecycle
Consider requirements across the employee lifecycle, from hiring through offboarding.
Review the Structure Regularly
International workforce requirements can change as the business, employee location or local regulations change.
A mobility program should therefore be reviewed as the workforce expands.
Build Your Global Mobility Strategy
Plan a global workforce structure that considers your business needs, employee lifecycle and destination-country requirements.
Build Your Global Mobility Strategy →How FastLaneRecruit Supports Global Mobility
FastLaneRecruit helps businesses manage international employment requirements through EOR and workforce administration services.
Depending on the country and service scope, our support can include Employer of Record services, payroll and employment administration, international hiring, employee mobility, and multi-country workforce support.
Book a Free Consultation →Our Global Mobility Support
- Employer of Record: FastLaneRecruit can provide a local employment structure for businesses hiring employees in countries where they do not have their own employing entity.
- Payroll & Employment Administration: We can support key employment administration requirements, including payroll and applicable statutory processes.
- International Hiring: Businesses can use an EOR structure to hire employees in selected markets without immediately establishing their own local employing entity, where appropriate.
- Employee Mobility: For employees moving across borders, FastLaneRecruit can support the employment administration associated with the applicable employment structure.
Multi-Country Workforce Support
FastLaneRecruit operates across Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Service availability and scope may vary by country.
Manage Your International Workforce
Get support with the employment administration involved in managing employees across borders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Mobility Services
What are global mobility services?
Global mobility services help businesses manage employees and workforce activities across countries. Depending on the situation, they can include international hiring, relocation, immigration, payroll, benefits and employment compliance.
What does a global mobility service provider do?
A global mobility provider can help coordinate employment-related requirements for employees working across borders. Services may include relocation, immigration coordination, payroll, benefits, employment administration and compliance support.
Does global mobility include immigration?
It can. Immigration and work authorization are common components of international employee mobility, but requirements vary by country and individual circumstances.
Can an EOR support global mobility?
Yes. An EOR can provide a local employment structure for certain international hiring and mobility situations. EOR is one component of global mobility rather than a replacement for the broader mobility function.
When should a company use an EOR?
An EOR may be appropriate when a business wants to employ workers in another country without immediately establishing its own local employing entity, subject to the country and circumstances.
How much do global mobility services cost?
Costs vary according to the destination country, employee circumstances and services required. Factors can include salary, statutory costs, payroll, immigration, benefits, relocation and the chosen employment structure.
What is included in a global mobility program?
A program may include international hiring, employee relocation, immigration, payroll, compensation and benefits, employment compliance and workforce administration.
