Deel's Policy Vision for the Future of Work

As a company at the forefront of global workforce management, Deel’s mission is to make international business as seamless as operating locally. Today, we’re sharing our formal policy positions on the future of work - a framework which reflects our vision and commitment for shaping this future.

Imagine a world where talent knows no boundaries, where a software engineer in Australia can seamlessly work for a startup in Toronto, and a small business in the United States can effortlessly expand into European markets, creating jobs and driving investment back home. This isn't just a dream – it's the future Deel is building.

Global market expansion has become the new playing field for business competition, yet the infrastructure required to operate internationally is often only accessible to Fortune 500 companies, leaving smaller businesses at a disadvantage. This disparity doesn't just impact individual companies – it holds back entire economies. In an increasingly distributed workforce and global economy, every company deserves the opportunity to compete on equal footing, regardless of size.

Deel was founded by immigrants and is powered by a global team. We have experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities of international work. This journey has shaped our vision for a future where geographic boundaries no longer constrain human potential and where businesses, workers, and innovation thrive on a truly global scale.

The Foundation: Breaking Down Barriers for Global Expansion
At the heart of our vision is simplified global expansion and accessible, compliant pathways to global work and talent mobility. In today's knowledge economy, the ability to connect talent and skills across regions isn’t just beneficial – it’s essential for fostering innovation and sustainable growth.

Workers no longer seek a strict five-day office environment; they value flexibility that enables them to thrive from anywhere. Deel advocates for policies that streamline talent mobility, such as simplified visa processes, digital nomad programs, and updated tax and labor frameworks to support cross-border work. Every skilled immigrant who joins a team contributes to the tax base, brings diverse perspectives, and often generates additional jobs.

But talent mobility is just the beginning. Enabling global work requires modern infrastructure to make operating internationally as seamless as running a local business. Deel’s Employer of Record (EOR) services provide the compliant link between businesses and global talent. This allows a small business in Austin to hire top talent in Amsterdam without the need to establish a local entity, dramatically reducing barriers to global expansion. This approach drives economic growth in both directions: companies gain access to global talent and new markets, while creating jobs and attracting foreign investment to their home countries. American workers also benefit from expanded opportunities, gaining access to roles with foreign companies that were previously out of reach. And this employment relationship can work both ways: American workers, for instance, are also afforded access to job opportunities with foreign companies that previously did not exist. Deel advocates for policies that ensure this cross-border employment ecosystem remains accessible and beneficial for workers and businesses alike.

The Tools: Embracing Technology Responsibly
As we build this globally connected future, Deel strongly supports a balanced approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulation that promotes innovation while ensuring ethical and responsible use. At Deel, we're harnessing AI to streamline global HR processes, enhance compliance, and provide deeper workforce insights. But we recognize that AI's transformative potential must be balanced with responsible, principles-based regulation that safeguards privacy, promotes transparency, and encourages meaningful advancements. Effective AI oversight should define clear roles for AI creators and users, ensure compliance through expert-driven assessments, and adapt to AI's rapid evolution while promoting global consistency.

The rise of AI also highlights a crucial truth: tomorrow’s workforce will require different skills than today’s. That's why Deel is investing in upskilling solutions such as Deel Engage and supporting policies that make workforce development and career advancement accessible to all. As businesses increasingly operate globally, we need to prepare our existing and future workforce for this new reality. The future we envision isn't just about connecting talent across borders – it's about ensuring that talent remains competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The Framework: Modernizing Work for the Digital Age
Our vision for the future of work is centered on empowering workers with the tools and support needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Deel advocates for portable benefits that stay with workers across jobs and employment arrangements, ensuring security and flexibility. This includes pushing for global recognition of stock options and ownership as legitimate compensation, taxed fairly, and modernizing payment systems to enable instantaneous cross-border transactions.

We believe employment laws and worker classification rules should be modernized for the digital age. The traditional binary distinction between employees and contractors fails to capture, or at least overly simplifies, the diversity of today's working arrangements. Our Compliance Hub monitors labor policy changes globally and keeps Deel customers informed in real-time about regulations that affect their workforce. We also offer tools such as our worker misclassification assessment, which allows employers and workers to evaluate classification status for informational purposes, and we’re dedicated to supporting businesses in hiring and managing workers effectively, recognizing that varying statutes, regulations, and case law worldwide make worker classification a complex challenge. Deel advocates for governments to modernize these frameworks to move beyond rules shaped for the workforce of the past century and adapt to the needs of a digital, global economy.

The Culture: Building a High-Performing Global Workplaces
Our policy positions go beyond regulations, extending to workplace culture and how we build a globally connected workforce. As the world’s largest and most globally distributed remote-first company, Deel demonstrates that success is possible without a traditional office environment. With 4,500 workers across 104 countries, we’ve shown how remote first models foster diversity, operational efficiency and sustainability.

Deel advocates for policies that support flexible work, including updated tax and labor regulations. Flexible work reduces barriers to hiring globally and lowers workplace carbon footprints. Remote-first and flexible companies benefit from greater operational efficiency and build more environmentally sustainable business models. Studies show a 50%+ reduction in per-worker carbon production for remote-first companies compared to office-based models.

As Deel prepares for the next chapter of our journey, we're focused on creating a culture where global teams thrive. Everyone should be empowered to collaborate and innovate, no matter their location. By building an inclusive workforce that reflects the interconnected world we serve, Deel is proof that growth and inclusivity can coexist.

The Future We See
At Deel, we believe that public policy has a pivotal role in shaping the future of work. Our vision extends beyond transforming global workforce management; it includes advocating for policies that drive innovation, empower workers, and promote global economic growth.

• We champion skilled worker immigration policies, such as streamlined visa processes and digital nomad programs, to unlock talent mobility and boost economic growth.
• We support balanced AI regulation that fosters innovation while safeguarding privacy, ensuring compliance, and preparing workers for the jobs of tomorrow.
• We advocate for modernized worker protections, including portable benefits and fair stock option treatment, to reflect today’s flexible and dynamic work environment.
• We push for payments modernization to ensure businesses and workers experience seamless, low-cost, and efficient payroll systems in a globally connected economy.

Deel’s unique position as a global, remote-first company gives us firsthand insight into the challenges and opportunities of today’s workforce. We are committed to collaborating with policymakers, businesses, and communities to build a world where businesses thrive, workers flourish, and innovation drives progress. Let’s shape a future of work built for everyone.