According to Job van der Voort, co-founder and CEO of the global payroll-platform-turned-HRIS Remote, HR teams “really need” their HRIS—or system of record—to work intuitively, calibrate for international hiring and business operations, and navigate emerging compliance minefields. It’s the kind of platform needed for lean HR teams of the future.

Companies are quickly building out borderless workforces and are relying on transformative AI technology to upend work and optimize productivity, according to a new report published by Remote. Remote—which primarily works with clients that employ international teams—found that 86% of HR leaders surveyed reported international talent as a part of their organization’s workforce. Many HR teams—equipped with AI tools—are delivering outsized impacts, according to the findings.

Remote surveyed more than 3,500 director-level-and-above HR and business leaders at companies in fields like finance, IT and telecommunications, and professional services in 10 countries.

Van der Voort told HR Brew that Remote employs roughly 2,000 employees across the globe, but he doesn’t “want to increase the size of our HR team,” so he’s building tools into Remote’s platform that can enable its own lean HR team to grow and scale without added headcount.

For more on how this HR tech founder is using AI to free up his firm’s HR team, keep reading here.—AD

The UK signaled earlier this year that it would change its visa fees and regulations to attract valuable talent, following President Trump’s Sept. announcement that H-1B visa application fees will increase to $100,000. But recent reports indicate that the UK isn’t the only country ready to capitalize on this potential talent opportunity.

Where in the world? Coincidentally, China earlier this month rolled out the K visa to lure college graduates and young STEM professionals to the country, Al Jazeera reported. While details are limited, and it’s unclear how long K visa holders can remain in the country, according to reports, it does not require employer sponsorship, unlike other Chinese visa programs.

Not everyone is excited about the new visa. China’s economy has slowed in 2025, and urban unemployment has risen. The country also has more college graduates than ever before, but a shortage of white-collar jobs. Some Chinese citizens fear the visa could lead employers to prioritize hiring foreign workers over locals, according to CNBC.

Satellite view. From Argentina to South Africa, countries are contending with a widening skills gap, and determining how to bring in more top talent to strengthen their own businesses and economy.

For more on how countries around the world are rethinking work visas, keep reading here.—KP

AI is becoming widespread in the workplace, but employees who have no say in how it’s used report lower job satisfaction.

That’s according to one of a handful of recent data points on how AI is shaping the future of work. Any big AI job-pocalypse might be further off than the current panic would indicate, another report found, but that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t reshaping offices in the meantime.

For more on the latest research on AI and jobs, keep reading on Tech Brew.—PK