Issue 11: Borders

In the world of payroll, crossing borders raises new questions of compliance. Although it sometimes seems like our divisions are only growing, today’s global population has never been more connected. Issue 11 of the ReThink Quarterly explores borders as both real and imagined limitations, highlighting people who are making connections across divisions and between nations.

When your commute crosses a border

Our world has more walls than ever before — but borders remain a place of economic, social and cultural exchange for millions of workers around the world.

Border lines: Bangladesh – India

The India-Bangladesh barrier is the longest border wall in the world — spanning 80% of the boundary between the two nations — and Benapole–Petrapole is its busiest crossing.

Border lines: Congo – DRC

Julien Defosse commutes between his home in Brazzaville and his job in Kinshasa via the Congo River, the waterway that divides the world’s two closest capitals.

Border lines: France – Switzerland

Emilie Deseneux commutes between her home in Saint-Pierre-en-Faucigny and her job in Geneva via car, bus and tram, alongside more than 220,000 daily “saute-frontières” (border jumpers).

Border lines: Malaysia – Singapore

Sharmin Nishaa commutes between her home in Johor Bahru and her job in Singapore via the world’s busiest land border crossing: the Johor–Singapore Causeway.

Border lines: Mexico – U.S.

Roy Villalpando commutes from his home in Tijuana to his job in San Diego via San Ysidro Land Port of Entry — the fourth busiest land border crossing in the world.

Border lines: Paraguay – Brazil

Timoteo Zaracho commutes between his home in Ciudad del Este and his job in Foz de Iguazú via the International Friendship Bridge, which stretches over the Paraná River.

Building teams across borders

Location is less important than ever in this age of globalization, so why are we still beholden to abstract limits?

Getting buy-in on global payroll transformation

Gathering support from internal stakeholders is essential when making the business case for transformation.

The DMZ gift shop worker

Tourists visiting the border between South Korea and North Korea want souvenirs, and Wanbae Lee supplies them.

Monetary integration and common currencies

How and why independent states give up their own money in the pursuit of a joint, cross-regional currency.

Global migration in 6 charts

The pandemic changed the game. Here’s what international migration looks like in 2024.

The Denominator, a device for counting money

Mechanical tabulation changed the game for payroll clerks in the early 20th century.

How to handle cross-border commuters

Maxi-passports, daily queues and paying tax just once: the life of a cross-border commuter.

How G-P helps companies onboard global talent in record time

G-P has helped thousands of companies hire talent in 180+ countries without the need to set up new business entities.

How 6 people in Hong Kong earn their dollars

More than 7 million people live in this Special Administrative Region of China.

How to run a shadow payroll for employees on international assignments

Ensuring compliance in both home and host countries requires careful coordination and planning.

Does payroll belong in finance or HR?

Three experts sound off on the rightful place of payroll within an organization.