While many employers move jobs overseas in an effort to cut
costs, other employers have added foreign employees in an effort to
create an international presence or get to a toehold in another
market. Still other employers may find that they have inherited
foreign employees through a merger or acquisition of another
business. Regardless of the reason, more employers are doing
business in other countries, requiring them to become familiar with
foreign employment laws and practices.
American employers may be surprised to learn that many commonly
accepted employment practices in the United States may be
culturally unacceptable or even illegal abroad. The hiring and
firing of employees at will, setting working hours, requiring
employees to agree to noncompetition agreements and even deciding
whether to offer health-care, vacation or maternity benefits are
all areas in which American employers enjoy a great deal of
latitude, with relatively little government restriction
