Ukraine remains resolute and determined despite facing severe adversities due russia’s aggressive actions. From the deliberate bombing of civilians in cities, towns, seaports, and even atomic power plants to the catastrophic decimation of cities like Mariupol, the scale of devastation is heart-wrenching. The malevolence didn’t stop in cities; hundreds of towns and villages also bore the aggression’s brunt. In a harrowing incident, the Kakhovka Dam, under the control of the russian military since their invasion, was breached in June 2023.
This widespread destruction has forced over 8 million Ukrainians – women, children, and the elderly – to seek refuge in safer areas, leaving behind their homes and the life they once knew.
This population exodus disrupted individual lives and has led many companies to see their core talents scattered, jeopardising critical operations and projects and putting Ukraine’s entire national economy at grave risk. People are irreplaceable as the very lifeblood of business and the economy. Their displacement has left a void that has threatened both the business continuity of individual companies and the nation’s broader economic framework.
Many companies, witnessing their key talents flee to safer regions, grappled with the looming danger of stalling critical operations and projects. However, amid these trying times, Express Global Employment’s unique third-party cross-border employment (Global Employer of Record) model emerged as a pivotal solution to navigate these challenging waters.
Redefining Business Continuity: Ukraine’s Response to Global Workforce Challenges
The resilience of Ukrainians was recently celebrated at the “TOP 100 USA Entrepreneurs with Ukrainian origins” Award ceremony in New York, USA. This event highlighted the unwavering spirit and significant contributions of Ukrainian entrepreneurs to the global business landscape. Among the honorees, Nick Ganzha, the founder and CEO of Express Global Employment, received special attention for his entrepreneurial success and timely and critical support to the Ukrainian business community.
The recognition of Express Global Employment speaks volumes. Beyond our business milestones, it emphasizes our unique role as the sole global employment solutions provider addressing the Ukrainian workforce displacement crisis.
Express Global Employment also recognised the significance of the “TOP 100 USA Entrepreneurs with Ukrainian origins” event in New York, USA. It provided us a platform to raise awareness about Ukraine’s global employment challenges and illustrate our company’s commitment to aiding Ukraine and its people.
Our services empower Ukrainian businesses to integrate their dispersed talent abroad seamlessly and cost-effectively. With the unpredictable movement of valuable talent to various global destinations, this approach is essential for maintaining uninterrupted business operations.
Navigating the Global Employment Landscape: The EOR Advantage
Given the tragic aftermath of russia’s relentless aggression against Ukraine, it’s more vital than ever to have nimble and quick-acting business strategies in place. The Global Employer of Record (EOR) model is a beacon of hope in a rapidly shifting employment landscape.
Far from being a mere industry catchphrase, the Global EOR model presents a transformative approach to addressing massive workforce displacement in Ukraine. It allows companies to hire, compensate, and retain their key talent in foreign territories without the complexity and bureaucracy of establishing a foreign legal entity. It’s more than just a convenience; it’s a pivotal tool for ensuring business resilience and continuity amid geopolitical upheavals.
Express Global Employment is a shining example of the effectiveness of this model. With a strong presence in 190 countries, we’ve stepped up since the very outset of the war in Ukraine. By assisting national and multinational businesses, we’ve ensured the retention of irreplaceable talents and saved jobs for displaced individuals, especially women with children.
Our efforts have ensured that crucial projects continue without interruption, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of the Ukrainian spirit in the face of adversity.
Express Global Employment: A Commitment to Serve Ukraine and its People
Rooted in Ukraine and globally active for decades, Express Global Employment remains committed to offering vital solutions for businesses during these challenging times. With Nick Ganzha at the helm, the company’s primary focus has always been to serve — whether addressing clients’ immediate needs or responding to the broader challenges that the current situation in Ukraine presents.
Nick Ganzha’s dedication to Ukraine goes beyond business. Actively supporting Ukraine in its fight against full-scale russian aggression, Nick’s profound patriotism and love for his homeland have translated into substantial donations. Having already contributed over $200,000 to support Ukraine’s cause, Nick commits to continuing these donations until Victory is achieved.
Nick Ganzha, the founder of Express Global Employment, shared these profound words.
Express Global Employment originated in Ukraine, driven by a clear vision. I envisioned the ecosystem where businesses irrespective of their size or financial backing could seamlessly tap into any global market. Where geographical boundaries would not restrict the quest for the best talent, because now the entire world is your talent pool. To me success isn’t defined by the profit margins or market dominance.
It is about the aspirations we bring to life and the lasting impact we create. Each day, helping Ukrainian and international entrepreneurs join the global business landscape, I see I’m living my dream. Now as millions of Ukrainians and all the people of the free world unite in the spirit and purpose, we inch closer to our most profound collective dream —Ukraine achieves Victory, standing tall and free, forever!
We Wish We Knew!’ – The Power of the Third-Party Employment Approach in Trying Times
As millions of Ukrainians sought safety away from home, critical employees of our client – a prominent enterprise company- were displaced. The loss was felt deeply in numbers and years of irreplaceable expertise and intricate industry knowledge.
To compound the crisis, the company faced many challenges: the fluctuating demand for their products, interruptions in sourcing raw materials, and disrupted production and logistics chains. These adversities necessitated an agile rethinking of strategies. Realising the risk of depending heavily on a singular market, the management wisely chose diversification, eyeing opportunities in neighbouring countries.
Our engagement with a leading Ukrainian enterprise epitomises this insight. They found themselves in a unique predicament: some of the company’s key employees, integral to its core operations, had fled to various countries—Spain, Portugal, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria. These individuals were invaluable to our client enterprise, and their sudden absence posed a considerable challenge and potential disruptions.
The dilemma was about more than just replacing talent. It was about swiftly and compliantly re-employing these pivotal team members in their new locations without the bureaucratic and financial complexities of establishing multiple foreign legal entities. This is where Express Global Employment’s extensive expertise, global coverage, infrastructure, and agility of the Global Employer of Record model came into play.
Re-Employing Key Talent Across Europe
We acted promptly and with precision. In Spain, we streamlined the re-employment of one of their client’s key personnel. We meticulously handled every step of the process, from crafting the employment contract to ensuring comprehensive travel and benefit provisions. And, to our mutual satisfaction, the whole engagement was wrapped up in just a few days.
The momentum was sustained. Shortly after that, we onboarded another key team member in Portugal. Moreover, beyond aiding their expansion into new territories, we also played a crucial role in retaining the talents who had left Ukraine.
This was particularly evident as we collaborated on retaining a vital team member in Slovakia. Within a month, we concluded another project in Poland, and currently, there’s keen interest in employing talent in Austria.
The tangible outcomes spoke volumes: our enterprise-grade client marked their presence in two new markets in just two weeks. Moreover, our intervention ensured the retention and productive engagement of the employes the company risked losing.
Hiring Globally: A Paradigm Shift for Ukrainian Enterprises
But beyond this particular success story, a broader realisation dawned upon us. Our approach was revolutionary for many Ukrainian companies accustomed to the conventional foreign entity establishment model.
The exclamation from our client’s HR director—”We wish we had known about it earlier!”—underscored this sentiment. Recognising this, we are now driven with an added purpose: to evangelise and popularise the third-party global employment model amongst a broader spectrum of Ukrainian business owners and the C-suite, ensuring they grasp its transformative potential.
Empowering Ukraine’s Future Through Adaptive Strategies
Ukrainian businesses have shown great resilience in these challenging times. Looking forward, mere persistence isn’t enough. Innovative strategies like the third-party global employment model are key to a fast-changing global scene.
By embracing such models, Ukrainian businesses can overcome geographic limitations, maintain their treasured workforce, and venture confidently into new territories. As Ukraine moves towards Victory over russian aggression, it isn’t just about reclaiming national stability but ensuring its businesses remain intricately woven into the fabric of the global economy with its remote work paradigm.
The message for Ukrainian entrepreneurs and businesses is resounding: change is inevitable. Yet, with smart strategies and partnerships, challenges become opportunities for growth. With innovation and Ukraine’s enduring spirit, our nation will thrive on both the domestic and global fronts.
Further Reading: Boundless Hiring: Nick Ganzha’s Vision for Global Employment
Employer of Record in Ukraine
In Ukraine, the Employer of Record (EOR) model serves as a strategic hiring mechanism for companies navigating a volatile regulatory landscape, especially in the context of martial law, workforce displacement, and evolving tax and labour reforms.
A compliant EOR in Ukraine allows foreign businesses to legally employ Ukrainian nationals or residents without setting up a local entity. This is not a workaround but a fully lawful structure where the EOR becomes the legal employer, taking on liability for contracts, payroll, tax contributions, and labour law compliance, while the day-to-day role management remains with the end client.
Real-world use cases include:
- Continuity of operations during geopolitical risk: Retaining key Ukrainian team members under a secure legal infrastructure despite office closures or entity wind-downs.
- Access to local talent for remote-first teams: Hiring engineers, creatives, or support professionals without local incorporation, while ensuring compliance with Ukrainian labour and tax law.
- Emergency transitions from freelance or contractor arrangements: Addressing misclassification risk by converting non-compliant engagements into structured, auditable employment relationships.
- Compliance with social contributions and salary standards: Adhering to national minimum wage thresholds, personal income tax obligations, and employer contributions to the Unified Social Tax and Military Levy.
Ukraine’s labour code remains largely protective of employees, with strict rules around contract types, dismissal procedures, and working hours — even under martial law. Missteps around employment termination, benefits, or incomplete reporting can expose foreign firms to penalties or reputational harm, especially if local authorities are involved.
A qualified EOR partner should also account for:
- Regional relocations (e.g. western Ukraine, EU-based remote setups)
- Hybrid arrangements with cross-border tax implications
- Local benefit norms including health coverage and protected leave
For businesses already engaged with Ukrainian professionals or looking to enter the market cautiously, EOR is a practical entry point that combines speed with reduced legal exposure.