HR Audit Services in Europe for UK Companies

Expand into Europe

Preparing to expand from the UK into Europe is an exciting prospect, but it can also be overwhelming. With drastically different laws and regulations in place regarding hiring, staffing, training, payroll, and HR management, expanding into Europe from the UK takes a lot of work. 

There are many stages to get through before your expansion is fully operational and your business is up and running in Europe. At the earliest stages, it can feel almost impossible to get it all done. 

Finding the right support for your expansion is key to your success. 

One of the most important steps in preparing for your expansion is to perform a comprehensive HR audit. 

Audits provide:

  • A measurable baseline of your current operations
  • Holes in your current HR methods and strategies
  • Information about non-compliance with local and national laws
  • Details about workflow redundancies or inefficiencies

All companies that are working on expansion plans need to do an HR audit, regardless of how big or small they are. Audits are especially important for UK companies that are expanding into Europe.

Europe HR will perform a comprehensive HR audit to prepare your UK-to-Europe expansion

Our HR audit services are an essential part of expanding into the EU. 

Important details about our audits:

  • They are performed by highly trained and experienced HR professionals
  • Our team is multilingual
  • We can perform the audit as a standalone project or come on board as your dedicated European HR team
  • HR audits are complicated, but we know how to do them right

Our central goal is to help you successfully expand into Europe, which involves identifying all of the ways that your UK operations will need to change in order to be successful in Europe.

How does Brexit affect a UK-to-EU expansion?

Our team also has extensive experience navigating the business landscape changes that have occurred in the UK because of Brexit. 

We know that some businesses were already operating in both the UK and Europe, and they have had to make adaptations to their HR operations in order to be compliant in both places. 

Other companies were mid-expansion when Brexit changed the business landscape in the UK, and they have had to pivot significantly to manage these changes. 

Since Brexit, start-ups in the UK have had two sets of laws to navigate: existing and new UK laws, plus EU laws that don’t expire in the UK until the end of 2023. If these start-ups functioned in compliance with UK laws, they will need to create all-new compliance measures to expand into Europe.

HR specialists planning to execute an audit

The Stages of An Audit

HR professionals have developed an HR audit process that is thorough, detailed, and comprehensive. The three stages (Planning, Audit, and Analysis) are all time-consuming and important.

Understanding the three stages will help you prepare for your expansion.

Stage 1: Audit planning

The audit stage sets you up for everything else. Without the audit planning stage, nothing else about the audit will take shape.

There are several steps to audit planning.

Choose your team

Even if you make the wise decision to outsource your HR audit, you still have to choose who is going to be part of the audit team.

Your audit team should include:

  1. Your outsourced HR professionals
  2. Someone from your internal HR team
  3. An in-house or outsourced legal representative
  4. Subject matter experts for each industry (manufacturing, tourism, retail, tech, etc.)
  5. An executive team member at your company
  6. An administrative support person who can contribute to the audit’s general support tasks

Determine the audit’s scope

You may have noticed that we mentioned that we do comprehensive audits of your HR operations, but there are actually lower-level audits that can be completed instead. For example, if you have already been following EU laws because you were in business before Brexit, then you may need a smaller-scope audit.

We are happy to adapt our processes to as much or as little as you need.

These are some of the kinds of audits and sub-audits that may need to be implemented during your expansion:

  • Payroll compliance
  • General payroll audit (including wages and salaries)
  • Corporate structure
  • Overall compliance assessment
  • Corporate restructuring prep
  • M&As (Mergers & Acquisitions)
  • Labor practices
  • Supplier compliance
  • Corporate social responsibility & ethics
  • Worker data privacy
  • Immigration compliance
  • Registration forms
  • Liability audit
  • Industry-specific audits

Create a LOT of checklists

Even though there are plenty of similarities between business practices in both the UK and Europe, there are also many differences.

These differences will affect you daily, and so one of the best ways to go about an audit is to examine every single aspect of your business’s operations. After determining which audits are necessary, create a series of checklists related to each area you will be examining.

Can I just use a checklist I found online? That’s a great question, and we can understand the temptation! There are quite a few cookie-cutter templates online that you can download, but these tend to be incomplete or even irrelevant to your specific industry or expansion.

When we work with you, we will create an entirely new audit plan that is unique to your business and your UK-to-Europe expansion plans.

One great strategy is to create a master checklist that will eventually be divided into many sub-level checklists. This strategy works especially well when you have a great time, because you can divide the subtasks up among multiple people or committees.

Each individual or subcommittee will only need to focus on a small part of the overall task, thus avoiding the likelihood of your in-house audit team becoming overwhelmed.

Your checklist is likely to include:

  • Insurance
  • Contracts
  • Local laws in cities where you will conduct business
  • Payroll
  • Payroll deductions
  • Corporate tax laws
  • Statutory leave (often called “leave entitlement” in Europe)
  • Benefits and compensation
  • Employee incentive plans
  • Tuition benefits
  • Rules related to discrimination and harassment in the workplace
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
  • Response to accusations of discrimination against protected groups
  • Recruitment
  • Interviewing
  • Onboarding
  • Overtime
  • Severance pay
  • Internal investigation procedures
  • HR policies for responding to employee complaints
  • Whistleblower protections
  • Formal investigation procedures
  • Collective labor laws
  • Collective bargaining agreements
  • Policies for managing labor disputes
  • Pension and retirement
  • Works agreements with the European Works Council 
  • RIF (Reduction-in-force) policies & procedures
  • Headquarters
  • Mandatory cost of living and inflation-adjusted raises
  • Succession planning
  • Employee handbooks
  • Required posting of information
  • Pandemic & global crisis plans
  • Contract language
  • Security protocols
  • Data privacy laws for handling and protecting employee data
  • Notifying employees of a data breach
  • Working with contractors
  • Immigration policies
  • Visas and permits
  • Expatriate compliance
  • Duty of care protections for business travel
  • Duty of care protections for personal injuries on the job
  • Compliance with overseas supply chain labor monitoring
  • Modern slavery due diligence (similar to the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015)

This list may not be comprehensive, but it should give you an excellent starting point for many of the operational areas your audit will examine.

Each of these items will be accustomed by a checklist with subtasks and responsibilities.

An HR policy handbook on top of a table

Stage 2: Conducting the audit

If stage 1 was a lot of work, stage 2 is going to be even more work–but not necessarily for you! At this stage, the HR audit becomes incredibly granular. However, the biggest responsibility falls on the person or group you have tasked with conducting the audit. 

At Europe HR Solutions, we manage the audit so that you can keep doing your job! 

We manage each of these stages from start to finish. When you outsource this process to someone with experience and knowledge, your responsibility is to make sure that they have all of the information they need. 

You will spend a lot of time gathering information, providing documents, and answering questions. By the end of Stage 2, you will have a complete audit of everything you are currently doing and what needs to change in order to be fully prepared for your European expansion. 

Why shouldn’t you “save money” and perform the audit yourself? Self-auditing your business comes with a lot of risk. 

Those risks include:

  • Missing small but important details because you don’t already have decades of experience working with European laws
  • You may end up wasting a lot of valuable time researching each aspect of the audit, simply because you don’t have the required knowledge to quickly understand each component
  • You will not be fully in compliance with European authorities, thus jeopardizing your expansion plans
  • You will be stuck paying for costly mistakes because of non-compliance

You are not going to save any money through non-compliance. Those small mistakes can add up. Just take a look at the list of companies who faced major fines in Europe for non-compliance. Meta topped the list with a €405 million fine in Ireland for data privacy violations. Many other companies saw fines that were in the €10-20 million range. 

For small and mid-sized companies, these fines can spell the end of your operations.

Stage 3: Audit analysis

Imagine going out and buying all of the ingredients for a brand new recipe, coming home and cooking an exquisite meal, and then letting it sit on the table, completely untouched. 

That is what it’s like to complete an audit but never really analyze it! You have to use all of this valuable information that your audit generated if you want to have a successful expansion to Europe. 

The analysis stage provides you with an excellent foundation for identifying what is working well and what you need to change about your business. From here, you can develop a series of action plans to bring your current policies and procedures into full compliance. 

These 5 questions will help you understand and respond to your audit:

  1. What are our strengths, and how can we continue to perform at a high level in these areas?
  2. Which policies do we need to create in order to be compliant with European employment law, as we don’t currently have any governance in these areas?
  3. Which policies do we need to revise so that we are in full compliance?
  4. How long do we have to complete these changes, and how can we ensure that everything is completed in a timely manner?
  5. Who are the people or departments responsible for facilitating each policy change?

Europe HR Solutions offers comprehensive audits to make your expansion work

Your expansion into Europe is an exciting opportunity. Don’t lose out on this opportunity because you aren’t fully compliant with Europe’s employment laws and HR regulations.

Europe HR Solutions will help you navigate the complexities of European labor law. You don’t have to try to figure it out on your own. 

Instead of struggling, trust our experienced and knowledgeable HR professionals to perform your audit. We provide thorough, detailed, and comprehensive audits to our clients so that they can move their business into Europe as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Our auditing team works hard to give you the chance to focus on other aspects of running and growing your business.

Contact us for a free consultation!

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    Our Client Testimonials

    We are proud to have worked with numerous UK- and US-based businesses as they have started their operations in Europe, including startups, acquisitions, and expansions.

    Here is what some of them have to say:

    Andy Brown
    Europe HR Solutions have provided exceptional service consistently over a number of years to Genea Biomedx in Europe. As a ...
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    Andy Brown
    Europe HR Solutions have provided exceptional service consistently over a number of years to Genea Biomedx in Europe. As a business head quartered in Australia with no inhouse HR support on the ground in Europe this has been invaluable, not only during the start-up phase but also as the business has expanded. I highly recommend them.
    John Hardin
    Europe HR Solutions are exceptional Human Resources professionals and fully understand the nuance and complexity of creating employment contracts in ...
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    John Hardin
    Europe HR Solutions are exceptional Human Resources professionals and fully understand the nuance and complexity of creating employment contracts in the various EU geographies. They also have a keen eye for talent, particularly for startups, and have been extremely helpful in identifying quality hires. I highly recommend them for HR consultation to any executive building an organization in Europe.
    Chantelle Hilleard
    As a dynamic organization with a significant footprint across Europe, managing HR compliance and legal requirements across multiple countries is ...
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    Chantelle Hilleard
    As a dynamic organization with a significant footprint across Europe, managing HR compliance and legal requirements across multiple countries is a key aspect of our operations. Partnering with Europe HR Solutions has been a transformative experience, and we are immensely grateful for their support. Europe HR Solutions has been instrumental as our Pan-European HR compliance and legal partner. Their expertise and proactive approach have been essential in navigating a variety of change initiatives and day-to-day operations. They have expertly guided us through diverse local regulations and intricate legal landscapes with a high level of professionalism and dedication.The tailored solutions and strategic advice from Europe HR Solutions have been crucial in ensuring our operations are both compliant and agile across all regions. Their seamless integration into our projects and their flexibility in addressing our evolving needs have made them an invaluable partner in our journey. I highly recommend Europe HR Solutions to any organization seeking reliable, comprehensive, and expert HR compliance and legal support across Europe.
    Chantelle Hilleard
    Chantelle Hilleard
    Rebecca Richardson
    I had the pleasure of working with Inez Vermeulen and her exceptional team at Europe HR Solutions, and I cannot ...
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    Rebecca Richardson
    I had the pleasure of working with Inez Vermeulen and her exceptional team at Europe HR Solutions, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Over the course of several projects, I collaborated with many team members, and every single one of them exhibited a high level of professionalism, expertise, and approachability.From the outset, Inez and her team demonstrated an impressive depth of knowledge in HR solutions, which was instrumental in helping me achieve my project goals. Their commitment to delivering high-quality work is evident in every interaction, and they consistently go above and beyond to ensure the success of their clients.One of the standout qualities of Europe HR Solutions is their approachability. No matter the complexity of the issue, I always felt comfortable reaching out to any team member. Their willingness to listen, provide insightful feedback, and offer practical solutions has been invaluable. This approach fosters a collaborative environment that makes working with them both productive and enjoyable.The dedication of Inez and her team to their clients' success is unparalleled. Their proactive approach and unwavering support have been crucial in navigating the challenges of various projects. I have been consistently impressed by their ability to deliver results on time and with the highest standard of quality.Without hesitation, I would work with Inez Vermeulen and her team at Europe HR Solutions again. Their expertise, combined with their friendly and supportive nature, makes them an outstanding choice for any HR needs. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and knowledgeable HR partner.
    Rebecca Richardson
    Rebecca Richardson
    Christos Kartalis
    Europe HR Solutions was main HR/Legal lead for a major restructuring in Europe in 2006. Amazing cross/dept/areas knowledge, ...
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    Christos Kartalis
    Europe HR Solutions was main HR/Legal lead for a major restructuring in Europe in 2006. Amazing cross/dept/areas knowledge, keenly results oriented, jelled with the team with decisive (especially for a "consultant") and highly accountable attitude. Europe HR Solutions are a amazing professionals, making things "easier" for management. I would work with them at any given next opportunity and would recommend them with out any reservations. Christos Kartalis. CEO, Int'l CIPLA.
    Jess Clark
    It is a pleasure working with Inez; she and her team of experts are incredibly knowledgeable and professional. I can ...
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    Jess Clark
    It is a pleasure working with Inez; she and her team of experts are incredibly knowledgeable and professional. I can contact her and feel confident in knowing that I will receive accurate guidance.
    Jess Clark
    Jess Clark
    Hanna Czarnecka-Nagy
    I'm thrilled to recommend HR Europe Solutions for their outstanding international employment law advice services. My experiences with their teams ...
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    Hanna Czarnecka-Nagy
    I'm thrilled to recommend HR Europe Solutions for their outstanding international employment law advice services. My experiences with their teams in France, the Netherlands, and Germany have been fantastic, and I'm confident their expertise will be a huge asset to anyone needing comprehensive legal guidance on a global scale.Navigating the complexities of international employment law can be daunting, but HR Europe Solutions made it smooth and manageable. Their ability to offer tailored advice that considers the specific legal contexts of multiple countries has been incredibly valuable.In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend HR Europe Solutions to anyone seeking expert international employment law advice. Their deep expertise, exceptional communication, and client-focused approach make them a standout service provider in this field.
    Hanna Czarnecka-Nagy
    Hanna Czarnecka-Nagy
    Juanita Hendrickson
    Europe HR Solutions has an excellent team of experts and/or front-line resources who have deep expertise across Europe. We ...
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    Juanita Hendrickson
    Europe HR Solutions has an excellent team of experts and/or front-line resources who have deep expertise across Europe. We successfully utilized many of the resources on this team to help us sort through a number of complex issues in The Netherlands, Germany, UK, Belgium, etc. Inez and her team are agile, speedy, and pragmatic in their HR approach and quickly became trusted advisors and partners with our Epredia HR team and managers.
    Juanita Hendrickson
    Juanita Hendrickson
    Christina Lambourne
    Europe HR Solutions have been vital to the HR journey of our business. To begin with we had two...
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    Christina Lambourne
    Europe HR Solutions have been vital to the HR journey of our business. To begin with we had two small acquired businesses and one newly founded company which all needed some structure and a lot of knowledge as a good foundation. Inez’ team in UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands have been hugely supportive and were fundamental to put in place the solid policies and the processes we now have in place. Their highly professional approach in combination with true empathy and flexibility was a breath of fresh air. We had a true partnership for over 18 months now and know we can rely on the team in day to day as well as critical and more challenging situations. Europe HR Solutions have supported us with recruitment, general HR advisory, policies, TUPE, Coaching, redundancies, and everything in between. As the CFO for the business, I’m eternally grateful for all the very practical and human support I have received to date and look forward to continuing this relationship.
    Gloria Aznar
    Thanks to Inez, I have gained more insight into how I can achieve my goals. She penetrates directly into the ...
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    Gloria Aznar
    Thanks to Inez, I have gained more insight into how I can achieve my goals. She penetrates directly into the heart of the matter and she will help you out in finding the solution for your challenge. Inez has taught me to look at my challenges from another perspective. She thinks with you and offers a framework to explore and to achieve your true desires. She supports you in discovering your own potential through making you aware of your inner dimensions. She is pleasant, professional and asks critical questions. Through the transformative coaching process, I have learned several techniques on how to further explore and discover my potential. This coaching process has transformed me in such a way that I feel more confident and peaceful to reach my goals, pledges and purpose.
    Check out our testimonials page to hear from more of our happy and satisfied clients! 

    Why choose Europe HR Solutions?

    Speed
    Our HR services professionals can start immediately and send answers to your needs within 24 hours or less.

    Immediately Operational & High Quality
    Our human resources consultants in Europe have many years of expertise. Our team will be able to help you immediately with your questions and projects.

    Flexibility
    We are HR experts who serve on an ad hoc basis, interim basis, project and retainer basis from a few weeks, months up to several years.

    Articles
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