Ask an Expert: The 2026 Guide to Hiring Globally

In 2026, global hiring is getting louder, faster, and—honestly—more confusing.

Between shifting regulations and a flood of automation tools promising to "simplify" everything, it’s hard to know what actually matters and what’s just noise.

Many leaders started global hiring as a "quick hack" to grow, only to realize that local contracts and "standard" benefits mean something very different in every country.

In this session, Hibaaq Abdillahi and Patricia Piticas (Director & Senior Managing Counsel – Employment Products) move past the typical webinar format for a candid "office hours" on the reality of international employment. Get straight, practical answers grounded in what Oyster sees across hundreds of companies and more than 100 countries.

You'll learn:

• The AI Reality Check: Where technology over-promises and where you still need a human expert to avoid expensive compliance traps.
• The 2026 Shortcut Trap: Which common DIY global hiring "hacks" are most likely to backfire in the current legal landscape.
• Strategic Market Selection: How to evaluate where to hire beyond just cost and identify which countries are becoming strategic hubs this year.
• Scaling Without Breaking: How to pressure-test your current setup and move from 5 to 50 global hires without losing operational control.

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