Understandably, the world of recruitment feels much smaller. But it can be easy to overlook the vast differences that exist between countries when it comes to the costs of hiring. 

At Playroll, we specialize in international hiring, understanding the nuances of taxation, benefits, and employee expectations in detail. Our HR Cost Calculator equips you with our expertise, allowing you to foresee direct labor costs and strategize even before posting a job on LinkedIn. 

Before exploring its features, let's examine the complexities of how to calculate on costs for employees for global businesses. 

Hiring remote employees abroad involves significant differences in costs, payroll taxes, benefits, and expectations across countries. To navigate these intricacies, it's essential to have a deep understanding of these differences.

True Cost of Employee Calculator

The true cost to company of an international employee

Internationally hiring often costs substantially more than the employee's salary alone. For example, companies hiring Israeli nationals must contribute to social security, severance pay, pension funds, and disability insurance. All told, this additional variable costs ranges between 20 and 24% of gross salary. And that’s before you add customary benefits that workers expect. 

At the other end of the scale, employer contributions for South African employees are much more manageable: 1% for unemployment insurance and a further 1% for the national skills development levy. With an average annual developer salary of $19,151, this is a very realistic prospect for a global company. A thirteenth cheque, while certainly attractive, is not required by law in South Africa. 

Most countries stack up somewhere in between. But even these mandatory employee costs are only part of the equation. In several countries, a thirteenth cheque is mandated by law: the Philippines and several Latin American countries for example. In others, like Cyprus, there is no legislative obligation, but it’s definitely an expectation that most employees have. Collective bargaining agreements may also exist that, while not codified in law, make these payments de facto mandatory.

Strategic planning with the Playroll Cost Calculator

Needless to say, all of this adds another layer of complexity that companies have to reckon with, alongside a host of compliance considerations. Our HR Price Calculator puts all of this information at your fingertips, so you can forecast costs and plan accordingly before you even advertise roles. In the event that two equally matched candidates apply for the same role, the true cost of employee calculator could be exactly what recruiters need to break the tie and make the right choice.

How the Cost Calculator works

Simply select a country, enter the gross employee's salary figure, and the cost calculator displays the total employee cost to the company, with a comprehensive breakdown including contributions, sick pay, paid time off, vacation days and other expenses. You can also switch to the employee’s view, view income tax brackets and generate the take-home pay that applicants can expect after their own contributions in their respective countries.

The platform also allows you to view all of this data in the currency of your choice, and break down the total costs on a monthly or annual basis. 

Once you add an employee - hypothetical or real - the platform allows you to factor in additional benefits that are likely to attract suitably qualified talent in different countries you’re targeting. Amidst intensifying competition for talent, this one is crucial to attracting and retaining the skills that are needed to power global expansion. 

Additional benefits to consider

The question of which additional benefits to offer takes careful consideration. This varies from country to country, and individual to individual, because it all depends on the specific needs and expectations that exist in each market. They include, but are not limited to:

• Office equipment and supplies
• Training and upskilling
• Health and wellness allowances
• Support for mental health and wellbeing
• Childcare support
• Professional liability insurance 

Even where they are neither mandated by law or customarily expected by employees, including additional perks and allowances is essential to building more competitive rewards packages. That’s key to becoming an employer of choice in the age of global talent mobility. 

Budget ahead of time with Playroll

Hiring across borders can be a minefield - but it doesn’t have to be. If you have a wish list of countries - or even if you don’t - The calculator can help you identify the most affordable countries, and reveal hidden additional costs lurking beneath the surface.

Through our network of international subsidiaries, Playroll is able to leverage in-country legal expertise to help our clients accurately forecast the true employee cost of every hire. 

Register on the Playroll platform and trial our cost calculator for free. Discover how Playroll enables strategic expansion for global businesses.