HR Outsourcing in Italy for US and UK Companies

Expand into Italy effortlessly

As one of the 10 largest economies in the world, Italy is an attractive prospect for UK and US companies that want to expand into Europe. 

The process of expansion is exciting, but also daunting. There is so much that goes into opening a European expansion, and one of the biggest challenges is navigating the complexities of human resources in Italy and the European Union. 

HR outsourcing in Italy for US and UK cocmpanies is arguably the most useful tool you have on hand for opening your Italian operations. When you outsource your HR services to our experienced team at European HR Solutions, your expansion into Italy gets a whole lot easier – and faster! 

Italy continues to be a desirable location for both US and UK companies, and you can access Italy’s opportunities, customers, capital, and culture by making this exciting move.

Understanding HR Outsourcing in Italy

At Europe HR Solutions, our experienced team of HR professionals can handle as many or as few tasks as you want us to. If you are looking for comprehensive HR management that takes everything completely off of your hands, we can cover it. If you want us to just step in on a monthly, year, or even as-needed basis for major projects, we can do that, too. 

We have put together a substantial but non-exhaustive list of HR tasks that you can outsource elsewhere when you expand into Italy.

HR compliance & legal support

Compliance with local and international law is one of the most important things your HR company can do for you, including:

  • Ensure that you are fully compliant with all labor laws in Italy and the EU
  • Reduce the risk of legal issues and fines
  • Create employment contracts that are fully aligned with Italian and EU laws

Recruitment & talent acquisition

Recruiting top-tier talent is always a challenge, but it’s especially complicated when you are coming into a region for the first time. To manage this, we can:

  • Find great candidates for your Italian open positions
  • Understand and navigate the local job market in Italy
  • Use our multilingual skills to attract the best local applicants to your company

Employee onboarding & offboarding

As a part of our HR outsourcing in Italy for US and UK companies services, we can help with onboarding and offboarding, two processes which require cultural and legal knowledge. We can:

  • Make onboarding more streamlined
  • Automate the appropriate steps of the process to reduce time spent on onboarding the onboarding process for new hires
  • Document onboarding according to local, national, and EU laws
  • Ensure that all of the legally mandated exit procedures for offboarding employees are followed

Payroll processing & benefits administration

Payroll and benefits are two complicated aspects of your expansion into Italy. Your HR experts will:

  • Process payroll based on Italian law
  • Make sure that employees are paid in a timely manner
  • Manage employee enrollment
  • Communicate with local benefits providers

Performance management

Many companies choose to have their outsourced HR firm take care of performance management tasks. That includes:

  • Implementation of performance appraisal systems that are a great match for Italian workplace culture
  • Creation of performance objectives that motivate employees
  • Generating meaningful feedback

Training & development

An HR team should be able to offer training and development for your employees, which may include:

  • Identifying any gaps in your current training plans
  • Tailoring your training programs to the needs of the local Italian workforce
  • Offering development programs that will enhance specific essential skills in your industry
  • Training your workforce to succeed in an international environment

Employee relations & conflict resolution

You can even outsource employee relations and conflict resolution tasks as they arise. Your HR team can help to:

  • Mediate employee conflicts
  • Address grievances as they arise
  • Resolve workforce issues

HR reporting & analytics

Reporting and analytics allow you to make data-informed decisions about your operations. Europe HR Solutions can:

  • Provide localized, up-to-date HR reports to the company
  • Offer insights into your Italian operations and workforce
  • Support your ability to make data-informed decisions

HR consulting

Europe HR also provides the following services for HR outsourcing in Italy:

  • Exceptional HR consulting services
  • Expert advice on how to align your HR strategies with the Italian business environment
  • Insights for your UK or US-based HR team
A laptop screen showing a human resources online system

HR technology & systems

We can assist your IT department by handling HR technology and systems, including:

  • Implementation and integration of HR software
  • Compliance with Italian and European Union data protection laws
  • Compliance with local, national, and European reporting requirements for technology use 

Employee engagement & retention

If you want to retain your top-performing employees, you have to make sure they are engaged and satisfied in their jobs. We can promote employee engagement and retention by:

  • Designing engagement initiatives that make sense for your Italian workforce
  • Identifying the causes of employee attrition
  • Promoting a positive workplace culture
  • Reducing employee turnover through data-informed strategy 

This list may not be everything that your outsourced HR team can do for you, but it provides a great overview of the many different tasks you need to be prepared for when it is time to hire employees in Italy. 

Europe HR Solutions is happy to help you develop a strategy that meets your company’s specific and unique needs as your launch in Italy and begin to grow your operations in Europe. 

Benefits of Doing Business in Italy as a US or UK Business

Entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors view Italy as an exciting prospect for several reasons. 

Italy as a Gateway to the EU and Beyond

Italy is a gateway into multiple international markets. First of all, it gives you access to the European Union market, which is massive – and growing. 

When you establish yourself in an EU nation, you gain access to the free movement of goods, products, services, capital, and talent. If Italy is your first expansion into the EU, it will increase your customer base to include more than 450 million EU residents. 

Although you can choose many different countries for your expansion into Europe, Italy is perfectly positioned to provide you access to both the Northern African and Middle Eastern markets. 

Growing sectors of the Italian economy

Some of the fastest growing and/or most established sectors of the Italian economy include: 

  • Manufacturing 
    • Auto
    • Textiles
    • Equipment
    • Metals
  • Agriculture
  • Construction
  • Service economy
  • Tourism
  • Renewable energy
  • Food & beverage
  • Software development 

More benefits of expanding into Italy

  • Italy has the third largest economy in the EU
  • Italy boasts a skilled and multilingual workforce 
  • Well-established infrastructure provides easy transportation from major cities to the rest of Europe and the world

Are there any drawbacks to expanding into Italy? 

The biggest drawbacks to expanding your operations into Italy is the risk of fines and penalties for non-compliance with local and labor laws. Outsourcing your HR tasks to a highly qualified team of HR professionals will help you avoid these fines! 

Additionally, Italy has a high corporate tax rate of about 24%. 

Last, Italy is known for being a challenging environment for launching a new business. That is true for Italian companies as well as US and UK companies. Finding the right resources in Italy is the best way to address these challenges.

The common question asked about outsourcing HR in Italy

FAQs About Outsourcing HR in Italy

Since 2010, Europe HR Solutions has assisted more than 200 companies from the US and the UK as they have moved into Europe. This includes expansions, acquisitions, and startups.
We have answered a lot of questions over the years about HR outsourcing in the EU, including in Italy. Here are some of the common questions we get asked about launching your business in Italy.

How can we make sure that we are fully compliant with all Italian employment laws?

Non-compliance is a serious offense in Italy, and you will end up dealing with very expensive fines for every incident – even accidental ones. There are really just three ways to focus on compliance:

  1. Your internal HR team does everything on their own, which will include a massive workload, learning everything from scratch, and possibly needing to have someone come in and clean up any mistakes.
  2. You hire a global employment lawyer with experience in Italy to look over everything for you and help you understand laws. This may work, but keep in mind that a labor attorney in the EU isn’t going to do the work of running your HR programs for you, even after providing legal advice on each of your policies.
  3. Outsource your HR to an experienced and highly qualified multilingual team like Europe HR Solutions! We know Italian and European laws inside and out, and we help our clients avoid costly and time-consuming mistakes.

What are some Italian labor laws we need to be aware of?

If you are a US or UK company that wants to expand into Europe, you can expect a lot of overlap between laws in Italy and laws in the EU. EU laws will absolutely apply to your Italian operations, but Italy has many of its own laws that need to be followed.
Here are some of the legal realities you will face in Italy:

  • Italy’s full-time work week is usually 40 hours per week. Anything more than 40 hours a week requires overtime pay.
  • By law, overtime pay must be at least 10% of the employee’s standard rate of pay. More typically, this ranges from 30-50%, thanks to Italy’s strong collective bargaining agreements.
  • Overtime is generally capped at 250 hours per year.
  • Italian and EU laws state that employees cannot work more than 48 hours per week or 8 hours per day.
  • All employees must be guaranteed a rest period of 11 or more hours between their shifts.
  • Italian law doesn’t require a specific minimum number of days of annual leave, but you can expect that most collective agreements will require you to provide a minimum of 20 days of paid leave each year.
  • If you want to impose limits on what days your employees can take off, you have to inform them of these dates in their contract.
  • Employees are entitled to sick pay for a maximum of 180 days per calendar year with a combination of social security payments and employer payments. Italy has one of the lowest rates of sick pay compensation in the EU.
  • Employees who are students may take about 150 hours of paid leave for class time and exams. It is also common for employers to provide up to 11 months of unpaid leave for employees who are going to university or another education program.
  • If an employee gets married, they are entitled to 15 days off.
  • You may also need to provide paid time off for family events such as births, caring for sick relatives, and family funerals.
  • Most of the time, pregnant employees cannot have their employment terminated from the first part of the pregnancy until one year after the baby is born.
  • Employees are entitled to maternity leave (5 months of compulsory leave), paternity leave (10 days that can be taken any time during the baby’s first five months), and shared parental leave (11 months that can be used any time before the child is 13).
  • Parents of children with a serious disability may take an additional 2 years of shared time.
  • You must provide unlimited leave to parents who need to care for a sick child who is under the age of 3, and 5 days of leave for sick children between the ages of 3 and 8.

This list is nowhere near complete! You will have many additional laws and rules to follow in Italy.

The Benefits of Working with Europe HR Solutions

Our incredible team at Europe HR Solutions is informed, experienced, and confident. We understand European and Italian law in a way that other global HR companies don’t.
HR outsourcing in Italy for US and UK companies means you will be able to rely on our multilingual professionals to provide a seamless connection between your business and your operations in Italy.
Our track record of successful partnerships with US and UK clients will demonstrate how we can accelerate your expansion into Italy, help you avoid costly fines, and save you time (and therefore money!). Because we handle those complicated HR tasks, you can focus on all the other important aspects of your expansion.

Contact us when you’re thinking about expanding into Italy

Contact Europe HR Solutions to learn more about how we can help your company navigate a successful expansion into Italy and the EU.

HR Brochure
Download our brochure

Europe HR Solutions Brochure

Our Brochure
Learn more about the services offered by Europe HR Solutions.

    Download this file

    Please enter your name and email address and agree to receiving information from us. We will send a link to your email for downloading the file. We will not abuse your personal information.

    Q

    Specify your topic

    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:

    Christina Lambourne
    Europe HR Solutions have been vital to the HR journey of our business. To begin with we had two...
    Read more
    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.
    Rebecca Richardson
    I had the pleasure of working with Inez Vermeulen and her exceptional team at Europe HR Solutions, and I cannot ...
    Read more
    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
    Anouck Cerdan Boillat
    I've been using Europe HR Solutions in countries where the team size doesn't justify hiring a local HR professional, allowing ...
    Read more
    Anouck Cerdan Boillat
    I've been using Europe HR Solutions in countries where the team size doesn't justify hiring a local HR professional, allowing us to maintain a lean HR organization. This solution has been fantastic, offering a high level of expertise. Not only do I benefit from exceptional support, but the HR consultants also provide valuable insights into best practices. The team is engaged, available, and knowledgeable. I highly recommend their services to any company seeking top-quality HR support.
    Anouck Cerdan Boillat
    Anouck Cerdan Boillat
    Maham Zafar
    Our experience with Europe HR Solutions has been nothing short of exceptional. As an international company, ensuring HR compliance across ...
    Read more
    Maham Zafar
    Our experience with Europe HR Solutions has been nothing short of exceptional. As an international company, ensuring HR compliance across various regions is a complex challenge, and Europe HR Solutions has proven to be an invaluable partner in navigating this intricate landscape.From the outset, their team demonstrated a deep understanding of the complexities associated with international HR regulations. Their expertise in local labor laws and regulations has not only ensured our company's compliance but has also provided us with peace of mind knowing that we are in safe hands.
    Maham Zafar
    Maham Zafar
    Paul Grafham
    Europe HR Solutions has consistently delivered high quality work in all of the projects that she has been involved in. ...
    Read more
    Paul Grafham
    Europe HR Solutions has consistently delivered high quality work in all of the projects that she has been involved in. The professional approach that they display is combined with a very personable manner, which has helped integrate them into the AngioDynamics team, and their expertise has assisted significantly in the growth of the international business. I would not hesitate to recommend Europe HR Solutions and the consultancy services offered, and believe they would be an asset to any organisation.
    Melanie Girardin
    Europe HR Solutons is my go to organization for anything related to employment matters in the Dutch market. They are ...
    Read more
    Melanie Girardin
    Europe HR Solutons is my go to organization for anything related to employment matters in the Dutch market. They are one of the most talented and efficient HR professionals I've ever met. This is a great pleasure to work with them. They are creative problem solvers, and trustworthy Advisors. Their recommendations are well thought out and clearly articulated. I give them my highest recommendation, without reservation.
    Ann Beckers
    Since a few months, Inez coaches me in creating my own vision, my purpose and my goals, as well in ...
    Read more
    Ann Beckers
    Since a few months, Inez coaches me in creating my own vision, my purpose and my goals, as well in my professional, as in my personal life. As a result, I feel much more confident, focused and relaxed. I have learned to know Inez as a very special person. She is one of those rare people who have the extraordinary gift of being a good listener. Do not expect abstract discussions about your career or your future. You can expect immediate results of a dedicated professional coach, who will support you to focus on the challenges and the goals that are really important to you.
    Ignasi Vivas
    I had the pleasure of working with Inez at different levels at American Medical Systems. Inez was able to provide ...
    Read more
    Ignasi Vivas
    I had the pleasure of working with Inez at different levels at American Medical Systems. Inez was able to provide us a Strategic view of what Human Resources can provide to an organization by being a true partner. With her as a leader, we were able to build processes as well as development plans, that helped us to move from a small to a mid size company. She guided us to always focuse on people, which lead us to become a stronger and bigger organization.
    Christos Kartalis
    Europe HR Solutions was main HR/Legal lead for a major restructuring in Europe in 2006. Amazing cross/dept/areas knowledge, ...
    Read more
    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.
    Chantelle Hilleard
    As a dynamic organization with a significant footprint across Europe, managing HR compliance and legal requirements across multiple countries is ...
    Read more
    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
    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
    Read more in our resources section

    How to Navigate Collective Bargaining in Different Countries

    How to Navigate Collective Bargaining in Different Countries

    Collective bargaining is a fundamental component of labor relations, serving as a negotiation process between employers and a group of employees aimed at establishing agreements to regulate working conditions. However, collective bargaining in different countries...

    Legal Challenges of Hiring Freelancers in Different Countries

    Legal Challenges of Hiring Freelancers in Different Countries

    In today's globalized economy, businesses increasingly seek to tap into a worldwide pool of talent. Hiring freelancers in different countries offers access to specialized skills, cost advantages, and the flexibility to scale teams as needed. However, engaging...

    Creating Employee Handbooks That Cater to a Multinational Audience

    Creating Employee Handbooks That Cater to a Multinational Audience

    In today's globalized economy, organizations are increasingly operating across borders, employing a diverse workforce from various cultural and legal backgrounds. An employee handbook serves as a critical tool in communicating company policies, expectations, and...