A professional employer organization (PEO) is an entity that co-employs an individual with an employer. The PEO and employer specifically share liability for the employee. Professional employer organizations almost always provide employee benefits and are very common in the United States (less so internationally).

Similar to traditional PEOs, Oyster helps companies hire across borders, but we become the sole legal employer of customers’ full-time Team Members. As an all-in-one global employment platform, we also go above and beyond the services a PEO can offer.

A PEO, or professional employment organization, acts as a co-employer for your global talent. It can help you administer payroll and benefits compliantly—but they don't take on full responsibility as the employer.

Working with a GEP, or global employment platform, provides more protection and security. It assists in employing your global talent, from compliant hiring to paying and providing benefits. By taking care of your team throughout the entire employee lifecycle, you can also expect more seamless experiences.

Instead of setting up your own entities, you can hire through a GEP’s legal entities and vetted partners. You also access legal teams with country-specific knowledge and expertise. This ensures that things like contracts, payroll, taxes, and benefits are compliant with local or regional laws and regulations. GEPs save you from unnecessary hassle and expenses so you can focus on finding the best talent and providing the best employee experiences to your team.