Switzerland is most often associated with chocolate, extraordinarily beautiful mountains, banks, and precise clockwork. But behind the European country’s picturesque Alpine landscape lies a patchwork of regulations and compliance issues that can catch multinational employers off guard. While Switzerland sits at the heart of Europe, it’s crucially not part of the European Union. That independence strongly shapes its employment laws, social security system, and payroll rules. Its federal system also adds complexity: Switzerland is split up into 26 cantons - basically states or provinces - and has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. This means that employment conditions, payslips, and HR documentation often vary by region.

Payroll professionals also need to contend with the large number of cross-border workers that move back and forth between Switzerland and its neighbouring countries, particularly France and Italy. Many Swiss citizens also move across the border while continuing to work in Switzerland, so that understanding bilateral agreements becomes crucial to compliance. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Maryline Duret, Business Development Manager at ADP Switzerland, and Dimitri Guilbaud, Director of ADP Switzerland, as they share their insights on navigating Switzerland’s payroll system. We also speak with Banu, a Swiss citizen who has moved to France while continuing to work in Geneva.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• Switzerland’s appeal as a business destination [03:55]
• Movement of employees across borders [05:57]
• The complexity of the cantons [07:27]
• Banu’s story [14:20]
• Bilateral agreements between Switzerland and its neighbours [17:58]
• Remote working across borders [18:57]
• The three pillars of Switzerland’s pension system [20:29]
• Managing reporting requirements via Swissdec [22:09]
• Timesheets in Switzerland [24:52]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Aylin Elci
• Voiceover for guest interview:Eleni Stefanou
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most dynamic business hubs. The special administrative region is famous for its buzzing economy, bustling street food scene, and its strategic position as a gateway to mainland China. The region’s robust service economy and its identity as a financial powerhouse have shaped everything from its workforce to its payroll processes. Multinationals looking to gain ground in the city and benefit from its role as a financial powerhouse need to contend with a payroll environment that is both highly regulated and constantly evolving.

Hong Kong is densely populated and inhabitants must contend with housing shortages and a high cost of living. As a result, many employees have moved across the border to mainland China and commute into Hong Kong. The prevalence of cross-border workers also means that employers need to navigate different regulatory requirements for their employees depending on where they live. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Jenny Sun, the Local Service Director at ADP Hong Kong, and Harry Chen, Service Director for the Asia-Pacific Region at ADP, as they share insights on navigating Hong Kong’s evolving payroll landscape. We also speak to Edmond, a financial advisor who lives in Shenzhen but works in Hong Kong, to learn more about an employee’s perspective on commuting between borders.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• Hong Kong’s labor market [04:18]
• The territorial tax system [08:23]
• The Mandatory Provident Fund [13:50]
• Cross-border employees [24:07]
• Edmond’s story [24:56]
• Compliance challenges for cross-border employees [31:14]
• How ADP can help [34:47]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Kelly Yu
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the continent’s top three alongside Nigeria and Egypt, South Africa stands as a vital hub of economic, cultural, and political activity across the region and the continent. South Africa’s payroll and HR landscape is shaped by its complex history and strong worker protection laws. Landmark policies such as the Employment Equity Act and the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act were introduced to promote fair representation and correct past inequalities in the workplace. The country’s labor landscape is also defined by a strong union presence.

Payroll professionals also need to navigate several statutory contributions, including the Skills Development Levy (SDL), a 1% employer-paid tax designed to fund national training and development initiatives. In this episode of Payroll Around the World, we’re joined by ADP experts Tracey Wiehman, Head of Services, and Oswald Bailey, Business Compliance Manager, as they share insights on navigating South Africa’s evolving payroll landscape. We also speak to Naomi, a manager at a financial institution in Johannesburg, to tell us more about her experiences with training opportunities funded by the SDL.

Timestamps

• Intro [00:07]
• South Africa’s economy [04:30]
• The unemployment rate [06:55]
• South Africa’s unions [08:04]
• 12 official languages [11:26]
• Payroll calculations [13:26]
• The Basic Conditions of Employment Act [16:33]
• The Employment Equity Act [17:08]
• The Triple B Double E Act [18:45]
• The Skills Development Levy [22:58]
• Naomi’s story [25:35]
• Payroll cycles and mandatory contributions [32:34]
• How ADP helps clients in South Africa [36:32]

Credits

• Executive Producers for ADP: Nicola Smith and Kate Allen
• Executive Producer for Storythings: Matt Locke
• Lead Producer for Storythings: Chris Mitchell
• Scripted and hosted by: Luisa Rollenhagen
• Guest interview recorded by: Khanya Mtshali
• Project Manager: Aimee Perrinjaquet

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.