Talent knows no borders. As businesses expand globally, the advantages of accessing a diverse, international workforce have never been greater.
While hiring internationally opens up a wealth of opportunities, it also presents unique challenges. Even the most experienced HR professionals may struggle when managing compliance, payroll, benefits, and contracts across multiple countries.
This is where Remote’s Employer of Record (EOR) services prove invaluable.
Remote enables companies to hire internationally without the need to establish a legal entity in each country. By managing complex local regulations, taxes, and payroll requirements, Remote takes on the heavy administrative lift, allowing businesses to focus on growth. Although Remote’s EOR service is widely popular, it may not suit every business’s unique needs or operational goals.
Here, we’ll cover what Remote.com’s EOR service offers, outline the key features to look for in any international EOR service provider and examine some common challenges users experience with Remote’s platform. Finally, we’ll highlight how alternatives like Multiplier EOR help solve those challenges to make global business easier.
What’s Remote EOR?
In the simplest terms, Remote EOR acts as a ‘passport’ to global hiring. Remote allows businesses to recruit international talent in over 170 countries without setting up local or official business entities in each one.
As an employer of record (EOR), Remote handles compliance with local labor laws, taxes, and regulations. This support enables companies to grow their teams globally with minimal administrative effort.
For companies operating globally, such a platform could well be a game-changer, unlocking access to talent in even the most challenging regions.
However, while Remote simplifies international hiring, it may not be ideal for every business. Its EOR services handle essential compliance, but they may fall short in complex markets that demand deeper local expertise and a customized approach.
Here, alternatives like Multiplier EOR offer all-in-one platforms with comprehensive support specifically designed to tackle the unique challenges of global expansion.
Features every global EOR service provider should offer
Choosing the best EOR service provider is pretty much akin to selecting a reliable business partner. You need a provider you can trust to keep your company complaint as well as provide a seamless experience to your employees around the world.
Here are some of the must-haves any EOR service provider should bring to the table to help your business thrive.
1. Comprehensive global compliance
Hiring internationally can surely unlock new talent, but it also requires navigating a complex landscape of diverse labor laws. Practices that are routine in one country may be legally restricted in another. A reliable EOR provider should ensure full compliance with local employment laws.
For instance, in France, employment contracts require strict legal adherence, such as the 35-hour workweek and five weeks of paid annual leave. A capable EOR provider will ensure full compliance with these regulations, protecting both the company and employees while enabling disruption-free and legally sound operations.
2. Seamless global payroll processing
Payroll can be one of the most complex things to manage, especially with multiple currencies, taxes, and deductions spread across different countries. Ideally, a robust EOR should have an efficient global payroll process that accommodates these nuances, so your employees get paid correctly and promptly.
Consider employee payment in Brazil, Singapore, and the UK. The tax laws and pay-out cycles in each one of these countries vary drastically. A good EOR ensures that each of his employees receives timely remuneration while avoiding any errors and delays in the process.
3. Smooth employee onboarding
Onboarding significantly impacts employees’ feelings about the workplace. Quality EOR service providers ensure accurate contracts, establish employee rights, and empower new hires to perform well in their new roles.
For instance, in Japan, local labor laws dictate that employment-related details are accurately reflected in employee onboarding processes and documentation. A reliable EOR provider will ensure that all procedures are legally compliant, culturally respectful, and ethically sound.
4. Localized benefits packages
What might be considered an excellent benefits package in one country could very well fall short in another. A robust EOR should provide a benefits package that’s tailored to local laws and expectations. Be it healthcare, retirement, or paid time off, it should reflect that your workers are well taken care of.
Take the example of Germany. Employers in Germany must make contributions to the government’s health and pension plans. In the United States, health benefits are highly valued when hiring new employees. Your EOR provider should manage these locally relevant and prevalent benefits without fail.
5. Transparent pricing structure
Nobody likes unexpected or additional costs. A fair EOR service provider should offer transparent and detailed pricing so that you know what you are paying for and there are no hidden fees or surprises.
Some EORs might charge extra fees for off-boarding, compliance updates, or tax filings. Try to pick one that has clear, straightforward pricing with no hidden fees.
6. Scalability
As your business grows, your EOR partner should be equipped to scale alongside you, whether you’re a small business, a mid-sized company, or a large enterprise.
Your EOR should seamlessly support rapid international expansion—whether you’re hiring ten new employees next month or scaling up to 100 next year.
Challenges with Remote EOR – and how Multiplier EOR solves them
While Remote EOR is a popular EOR service provider, it also has some downsides. Based on user feedback on review platforms, here are some common challenges that businesses encounter while using remote.
Challenge #1: Limited local expertise in certain countries
Remote operates in more than 170 countries; however, in some of those countries, operations have been impaired because of limited local expertise. This gap may create compliance risks for businesses operating in these markets.
According to a G2 review—”In some countries, the compliance support we received was not good enough, and we had to investigate some legal issues independently.“
In contrast, Multiplier EOR offers in-depth local expertise across 150 countries, along with legal and HR specialists who stay abreast of changing local regulations. This ensures businesses remain compliant and minimizes potential legal risks. G2 users comment about the “extensive regional know-how” that Multiplier provides, which proves very helpful in complex legal frameworks.
Challenge #2: Delays in payroll processing
In countries with complex tax laws, paychecks are sometimes delayed, leading to employee dissatisfaction as workers rely on timely payments.
According to a G2 review, “The delays in payrolls at some locations became a big nuisance to us. Our folks in those countries were not getting paid on time and that hurt the morale.”
Multiplier EOR, on the other hand, processes payroll quickly in real-time. So, irrespective of the location of the employees, payments are conducted with absolute accuracy and on time. With multi-currency support, Multiplier can offer timely payouts without holdups to employees. G2 reviews reflect that “the automated payroll processing has helped us stay on track with payments without any delays.”
Challenge #3: Lack of customization options
Remote EOR fits quite well with large multinational companies, but their packages seem less flexible for small enterprises.
As one G2 review states, “Remote EOR seemed much more well-suited to big enterprises. Being a small business, we wished it had more flexibility.”
Multiplier EOR is agile and tailored to provide services for any kind of business, be it a startup, a medium-sized company, or a large corporation. G2 reviews further support that Multiplier is “very flexible, with scalable options that grow with our company.“
Challenge #4: Limited benefits packages
Remote EOR benefits packages tend to be less competitive in general, especially where employee expectation levels are higher.
One G2 review notes, “The reach of the available benefits was somewhat constrained, and in certain geographies, we could not offer employees competitive health insurance options.”
In contrast, Multiplier EOR allows for comprehensive, competitive, and localized benefits packages with health insurance, pension plans, and many more. This localized approach helps companies attract and retain the best talent in the global marketplace.
According to G2 reviews, “Multiplier’s benefits management is outstanding. They offer all-round benefits that enable us to be effective competitors in the international market.”
Challenge #5: Lack of pricing transparency
Some users have reported that Remote EOR sometimes charges additional fees, making budgeting difficult for businesses.
According to one G2 review, “We had some undisclosed charges, which were not explained well from the start, leading to unnecessary headaches.”
Multiplier EOR offers transparent pricing without hidden costs, thus enabling a company to budget accurately. G2 reviews very often talk of Multiplier as a service provider with “transparent pricing without hidden costs, thus easier to budget.”
A checklist for seamlessly switching from Remote EOR to Multiplier EOR
If you are considering switching from Remote EOR to Multiplier EOR, it’s important to prepare and plan carefully so that the switch is as smooth as possible. Fear of switching from one EOR service provider to another could be very overwhelming to handle, but proper steps taken ensure less hassle and allow your employees to get continuous support along the way. Here is a simple checklist for you that will guide you through:
1. Evaluate the current challenges with Remote EOR
Start by identifying the main issues you face with Remote EOR, which could be delays in payroll, lack of local knowledge, or fewer benefits. Such a check will enable you to note what changes are required so that you can set clear expectations from Multiplier EOR.
2. Consult with Multiplier’s onboarding team
Contact Multiplier EOR to discuss your needs and the problems you face. During onboarding, Multiplier’s dedicated team will assess how they could answer your needs and make a precise plan while transitioning from Remote EOR.
3. Review and prepare your employee contracts
Collect and verify all the existing employee contracts (having information on employee benefits and tax filings) processed via Remote EOR. Multiplier will help you move this data and ensure all contracts remain compliant during the transition period.
4. Coordinate payroll and benefits transfer
Coordinate with Multiplier EOR on the handover of payroll and benefits administration to make it as smooth as possible. It’s essential so that the employees will not have any gaps in payment or benefits.
5. Notify employees of the transition
Explain the new switch to Multiplier EOR to your employees. Keep it simple and illustrate that this change may help them with faster pay, more desirable benefits, or better compliance. Open communication will reassure all of their concerns about the transition.
6. Conduct a compliance audit
Carry out a compliance audit post the shift and ascertain that everything works seamlessly under Multiplier EOR. Study the contracts, the payroll processes, and the benefits administration and determine that there are no legal and compliance gaps.
7. Monitor post-transition success
Once deployed, monitor how Multiplier EOR is performing through a check on payroll processing times, the employee’s satisfaction with benefits, and overall compliance. Any issues that might arise will be addressed speedily with the assistance of Multiplier’s support staff.
Why Multiplier is the right choice
The decision to choose between Remote EOR and other alternatives depends on your business needs. For most companies, Multiplier EOR offers a more adaptable and reliable solution. With deep local expertise, faster payroll processing, customizable services, comprehensive benefits, and transparent pricing, Multiplier EOR is the ideal partner for businesses looking to expand globally without compliance headaches or payroll errors.
Are you ready to transform your global business in just a click?
Sign up for a demo with Multiplier EOR to see how easy managing an international team can be.
