SINGAPORE, 27 October 2020: People management platform Employment Hero has announced its launch in Singapore to help better connect employers and employees in a new world of work. The launch includes the roll-out of its Global Teams service, a new Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) solution designed to democratise the talent landscape and help SMEs sustainably scale and compete on a global stage.
As Singapore SME business sentiment declines due to pandemic-induced volatility – a drop to 46.3 points, the lowest level since in inception of the SBF-Experian SME Index in 2009 – Employment Hero’s launch aims to support SMEs by eliminating the need for multiple people management tools, saving time and money during this critical growth phase.
The Global Teams PEO service will also give local SMEs access to talent pools across 54 countries without having to establish a foreign legal entity, further helping firms in Singapore to revive international expansion plans amidst the pandemic.
Ben Thompson, CEO and co-founder of Employment Hero, said: “As the pandemic accelerates the need for greater adoption of digital services, Singaporean SMEs have the opportunity to emerge stronger. Ample support from various government measures and players like Employment Hero means SMEs are not alone in this journey. Despite looming uncertainties, there are new avenues for SMEs to innovate and adapt to the new norms of working. This is not the time to adopt a wait-and-see approach, but rather to capitalise on opportunities to remain competitive and resilient.”
He added: “Similar to how we pivoted to help more Australian SMEs get through the COVID-19 crisis, we want to offer Singapore small businesses the same kind of support. Small businesses cannot afford to be left behind in the remote work revolution, and there has never been a better time to grow our mission on an international scale.”
Employment Hero has launched localised versions of its signature people, payroll and benefits solution in Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to help SMEs in these markets better navigate common HR processes, as well as people and performance management.
Traditional PEO services have long been exclusive to big enterprises, but Employment Hero’s Global Teams service enables small business owners to compete against enterprises in the international talent market, with tailored tools and resources designed to best serve SMEs.
Global Teams legitimises the hiring of international talent through compliant and fair work practices. Moreover, it aims to create a more inclusive cross-border working culture, with international employees having full access to Employment Hero’s suite of HR tools and benefits, keeping teams engaged, motivated and productive, wherever they are in the world.
The service also offers an in-built Applicant Tracking System (ATS), allowing SMEs to easily create and publish open positions to job boards. International candidates will then be given an Employment Hero ‘passport’ with access to the platform’s benefits, remote worker training, as well as a rewards and referral program to leverage network effects among employers and applicants alike.
Employment Hero is backed by global human resources firm, SEEK, from a capital standpoint with an AUD$ 22 million investment into the business last year, as well as providing experience and insight into the Singapore and Malaysia employment landscapes. Throughout 2020, Employment Hero has experienced strong growth after successfully pivoting its offering to focus on tools and resources to help the local small business community navigate the current global crisis. The platform has seen over 50 percent growth in new customer acquisitions since March, and subsequently expanded its team headcount over 40 percent, including hiring several new leadership roles.