Expanding into international markets presents companies with immense opportunities along with complex human resources (HR) challenges.
Navigating diverse labor laws, managing multi-currency payroll, and ensuring compliance across borders can quickly overwhelm even the most experienced HR teams. Don McGuire, President of Employee Services International at ADP, wrote that “working across borders and cultures raises new challenges for businesses” and that HR challenges, in particular, can act as a “constraint on growth.”
Leveraging a global human resources (HR) service allows organizations to avoid some of these challenges by accessing local expertise, streamlining global operations, and efficiently managing a distributed workforce. By partnering with an international HR platform, businesses can hire, onboard, and support employees and contractors worldwide, removing barriers to growth and enabling access to top talent regardless of where they call home.
This article defines global HR services and compares the best providers to help organizations choose the service that best meets their international HR needs—now and in the future.
Global HR services: What are they? Why do they matter?
Global HR services are solutions that support HR functions across multiple countries. Their services encompass onboarding, payroll, benefits, labor law compliance, and employee support. These services allow companies to more easily scale across country borders, manage distributed teams, and hire remote employees worldwide.
By centralizing HR processes through a single platform, organizations can reduce administrative burdens and minimize the risk of costly compliance errors.
Additionally, global HR services provide valuable insights into local talent’s expectations, which helps companies create competitive compensation packages and better foster a positive employee experience regardless of location.
What to look for in a global HR services provider
Choosing the right global HR partner is essential for sustainable growth. When selecting an international HR service, consider its:
- Geographic coverage. Not all HR services operate in countries where an organization seeks to hire talent.
- Provider service model (entity ownership vs. partner). In-house entities offer more control of HR functions and faster onboarding than partner models.
- Technology platform. An easy-to-use technology platform with integrated HR tools, payroll automation, analytics, and employee self-service options simplifies HR processes for the company and its employees.
- Compliance expertise. A global HR service must have deep local knowledge of employment law, statutory benefits, taxes, employment contracts, and more in countries where an organization plans to hire talent.
- Customer support. Does the HR service offer real-time support to customers who need help? Or do they rely on slower ticket-based systems or self-serve knowledge bases?
- Type of workforce supported. Companies seeking to hire a mix of independent contractors and employees require an HR service that supports both.
The 5 best global HR services
1. Velocity Global
Among global HR providers, Velocity Global’s geographic reach is unmatched. Ideal for high-growth companies, it operates in over 185 countries and provides direct employment and HR support capabilities. This international presence allows employers to hire in almost any country without having to undertake the complicated, often time-intensive process of establishing a legal entity there.
Velocity Global offers full-service HR services, from onboarding talent to running payroll on time in the local currency. It also supports full-time employees and independent contractors, providing flexibility for teams with a mix of talent types. Velocity Global’s in-region HR experts, steeped in the country’s labor regulations and work culture, can guide an organization through the HR lifecycle, ensuring it remains compliant at every step and avoids HR risks (like misclassifying talent or miscalculating payroll deductions).
Organizations that partner with Velocity Global enjoy the personal touch of a dedicated account manager and 24/7 human support. This sets Velocity Global apart from competitors with just self-serve options. Meanwhile, Velocity Global’s Global Work Platform™ provides organizations with real-time visibility into all HR-related workflows, many of which are automated to save time and reduce the introduction of errors.
2. Remote
Remote is an international HR provider recognized for its transparent pricing and user-friendly platform. This makes it particularly well-suited for smaller, remote-first organizations that require fewer supported countries than other platforms. Much of its compliance support is automated, however, which may not be ideal for companies that require support from in-region experts.
3. Deel
Deel is a fast-growing international HR platform known for its broad contractor support and rapid innovation. However, Deel’s use of owned entities and local partners can introduce complexity in compliance: the level of control and consistency may vary across different markets, requiring extra diligence from companies operating in highly regulated regions.
4. Papaya Global
Papaya Global is a finance-focused international HR provider known for its advanced payroll analytics and data dashboards, which deliver real-time insights across multiple countries. Its platform is especially beneficial for organizations that require detailed, multi-country payroll reporting.
But because Papaya Global relies heavily on a partner-based model in many regions, the quality of service and support can vary depending on the country. This can impact HR-related consistency for companies with widely distributed talent.
5. Oyster HR
Oyster HR is an international HR provider that is particularly effective for small and mid-sized companies seeking to hire talent in developed markets. However, it is not designed for enterprise-level scalability and offers limited support for complex benefits or advanced HR services in emerging markets. This makes it less suitable for large organizations with highly specialized or region-specific requirements.
Find your trusted global HR partner
With unmatched reach across more than 185 countries, Velocity Global empowers organizations to hire talent virtually anywhere in the world. With a core focus on compliance, ensure every aspect of onboarding, payroll, benefits, and other HR functions meets local regulations, minimizing risk and protecting your business as you scale.
Looking for country-specific HR services? Contact Velocity Global to talk with an expert about how our Global Work Platform™ could work for you.
Disclaimer: This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.
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