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At G-P, our industry leading Global Employment Platform™ helps companies unlock their full potential by building highly skilled global teams in days instead of months. But how does the everywhere workforce work together best? Here we discuss the opportunities – and challenges – in achieving the kind of global growth and success we can all share.
G-P. Global Made Possible.
Building global teams can open many doors for companies by making it possible to hire the perfect candidate, regardless of where they live. However, like many effective business strategies, global recruitment is not immune to challenges, especially when it comes to compliance with country-specific employment laws.
Failure to comply with local regulations can result in severe financial consequences, as well as damage to a company’s reputation and loss of trust among stakeholders, investors, and customers. Therefore, it is essential to implement compliance as a critical component of your global recruitment strategy to avoid potential risks and ensure long-term business success.
At G-P, our dedicated team of legal and HR experts has been helping companies recruit compliantly for nearly a decade. As your partner in global growth, we want to support you in achieving your recruitment goals while adhering to international regulations and standards. Here are seven of our best practices for ensuring compliance.
1. Stay up to date with local laws and regulations.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when recruiting globally is that labor laws and regulations vary from country to country. On top of that, these laws are starting to evolve much more rapidly in today’s fast-moving global employment market. Having the proper support to ensure you’re updating your recruitment policy as necessary is critical, including everything from laws around employment contracts and compensation to tax rules and visa requirements.
2. Create a comprehensive recruitment policy.
A clear and thorough recruitment strategy that outlines the company’s commitment to compliance can help ensure everyone involved in the recruitment process is on the same page. This policy should include details on how the recruitment process will be conducted, the criteria for selecting candidates, and how the company will handle any legal issues that may arise.
It’s also crucial that your recruitment policy includes country-specific explanations of the different cultural norms and legal requirements for various aspects of recruitment, such as regulations around job postings and advertisements, anti-discrimination, and background checks.
3. Prioritize diversity and inclusion.
All companies should maintain strict policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on characteristics such as race, gender, and age throughout the recruitment process and thereafter. In the same vein, prioritizing diversity and inclusion during recruitment is not just a best practice from an ethical standpoint, but it also puts companies on the right path to ensuring compliance.
Promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment also helps attract top talent and create a brand image that respects and celebrates individual values and differences. This leads to long-term benefits like increased employee engagement, retention, and ultimately, greater success in achieving business objectives.
4. Conduct thorough background checks.
When recruiting on a global scale, it’s particularly essential to ensure all potential candidates are thoroughly vetted, which includes verifying their education and work history, conducting criminal background checks, and assessing references.
However, it is equally important to ensure that these checks are conducted in compliance with local laws and regulations, as some countries have strict guidelines around background checks. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in significant legal and reputational consequences. We always recommend working with reputable background check service providers to ensure compliance and remain up to date with the latest country-specific laws.
5. Follow data protection laws.
Prioritizing data protection is crucial, especially when considering that over 70 percent of the world’s 194 countries have implemented data protection laws that govern the collection, use, and storage of personal data. It is vital to ensure compliance with these regulations, which often include obtaining consent from candidates before collecting their personal data and securely storing it.
To comply with data protection laws, organizations must implement appropriate measures to safeguard personal information throughout the recruitment process. This will also help establish trust with candidates and demonstrate a commitment to ethical and responsible practices.
These safety measures might include:
- Documenting and clearly communicating to candidates the purpose of collecting their data, how it will be used, and who will have access to it.
- Obtaining explicit consent from candidates to collect, process, and store their personal data.
- Limiting access to personal data only to those who have a legitimate need for it, and clearly defining what qualifies a “legitimate need.”
- Using secure storage and transmission methods to protect personal data from unauthorized access, loss, or theft.
- Updating software and systems regularly to ensure they are secure.
6. Implement a record-keeping process.
Successful record-keeping includes tracking all communication with candidates and ensuring key documents are kept up to date, made easily accessible, and stored securely. Maintaining the proper storage and accessibility of important communication records and documents, such as visa copies and employment contracts, could help protect companies if they were to face legal issues or in the event they need to prove compliance with local laws around the recruitment process.
7. Leverage support from reliable partners.
Working with reliable recruitment partners can streamline many of the complex and time-consuming aspects of compliance as you navigate international job markets. Recruitment experts well-versed in the local laws and customs can also provide valuable insights into cultural nuances that may impact recruitment strategies. By leveraging their expertise and networks, companies can reserve their time and valuable resources to focus on finding the best talent.
The global workforce, at your fingertips
Building international teams can lead to numerous benefits, including access to new perspectives, expertise, and insights. At the same time, without the proper preparation, prioritization, monitoring, and support, expanding your recruitment strategy to a global scale can increase your risk of noncompliance. The good news is, you’re not alone.
As your partner in global growth, this is where G-P can help. We back our #1 Global Employment Platform™ with the largest and most experienced team of legal and HR experts in the industry to ensure full compliance in 180+ countries. As an extension of our best-in-class platform, G-P Meridian Recruit™ pairs you with a vetted recruitment specialist to help you find the right talent, in the right location, at the right cost — in minutes.
Let us handle the complexities around global labor laws while you focus on tapping into the full potential of your international workforce. Reach out today to learn more about how we can help you unlock the power of your global teams.
