In an article published on the Conseil du patronat du Québec’s Re:travail website, our partners Nancy Boyle and Julie Lessard outline some of the best practices to follow before and while hiring foreign workers.
Given the current labour shortage, recruiting internationally may be the key to success. According to Julie Lessard, Head of BCF’s Business Immigration group, hiring workers from abroad demands a whole new set of skills from human resources. “Successful international recruitment requires knowledge of both legal and immigration issues,” adds Nancy Boyle, Head of BCF’s Labour and Employment Law group.
The pair suggests 10 key elements every employer should keep in mind when hiring someone from another country, including:
- making sure the job offer is contingent on obtaining a work permit;
- allowing several months’ notice before the employee starts work;
- understanding the worker’s goals and family situation, as family integration is a key factor in successful recruitment; and
- consider recent changes brought about by the Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec (Bill 96), especially when choosing the children’s school.
If you are recruiting internationally, be sure to understand your legal obligations to avoid unpleasant surprises.
