Employee Mobility Services for Businesses

Legal, labour and tax planning for employee transfers

Relocating employees is increasingly common for companies that are expanding, opening new offices or developing projects in different cities, regions or countries.

However, employee mobility requires careful management of employment law, tax and social security obligations. If these aspects are not properly planned, they can create legal risks or unnecessary costs for the business.

At GCO, we support national and international companies in structuring and managing the mobility of their employees, both within Spain and across international operations.

Our advisory services cover all stages of the process:

Employee Mobility Services for Businesses

Relocating employees involves much more than a change of location

Are you planning to relocate employees between offices or workplaces in Spain and unsure about the employment law implications?
Do you have employees temporarily working in other countries and are concerned about where they should pay tax or social security?
Do you manage several subsidiaries and need to transfer executives or specialists within the group?
Do you need to deploy employees to another city or country for a project and want to avoid employment disputes or regulatory penalties?

Employee mobility requires coordination between employment law, tax regulations and social security systems, particularly when multiple jurisdictions are involved.

That is why many companies rely on GCO to design mobility strategies that are compliant, structured and aligned with current regulations.

Employee Mobility Management for Businesses

Domestic employee mobility

Relocating employees between cities or workplaces within Spain may involve changes to employment conditions, legal obligations and potential disputes with employees if not managed properly.

At GCO, we analyse each transfer to determine how it should be structured from an employment law perspective. We advise on how to formalise workplace changes, review contractual conditions and ensure that the process complies with applicable regulations.

Employee Mobility Management for Businesses

Intra-group mobility

When a company is part of a corporate group, it is common to transfer employees between the parent company and its subsidiaries or between different entities within the group. These movements often involve executives, technical specialists or project leaders.

At GCO, we structure these transfers by analysing the employment, tax and social security implications involved.

This allows your organisation to move talent internally in an efficient and compliant manner.

Employee Mobility Management for Businesses

Employee expatriation

Expatriation occurs when an employee works in another country for an extended period of time. This is common for companies managing international subsidiaries or developing projects in new markets.

At GCO, we help you plan expatriation assignments from the outset. We analyse the employee’s tax position, determine the applicable employment framework and coordinate social security obligations across jurisdictions.

This allows you to manage expatriate assignments with legal certainty while avoiding issues such as double taxation or regulatory non-compliance.

Employee Mobility Management for Businesses

International employee secondments

In many cases, companies need to send employees temporarily to another country to carry out a project or provide services to a client, while maintaining their employment contract with the home entity.

At GCO, we analyse the legal framework applicable to the assignment and coordinate the employment, tax and social security obligations involved.

We help structure international secondments correctly so you can deploy employees abroad with confidence that the process complies with international regulations.

Are you structuring your employee mobility correctly?

We analyse your situation and help you plan domestic or international employee transfers with full legal certainty.

Employee Mobility Services for Businesses

Why companies trust GCO

Over 45 years advising businesses
Since 1978 we have supported companies, corporate groups and entrepreneurial families in managing legal, tax and employment challenges with experience and reliability.

Multidisciplinary team with a single point of contact
Economists, tax advisors, labour specialists and corporate lawyers work together on each case, with a single point of contact coordinating communication and ensuring efficient management.

Experience advising internationally active companies
We support companies operating across multiple jurisdictions or managing international subsidiaries, taking into account the legal, tax and cultural particularities of each market.

International reach and recognised professional networks
We are members of the Colegio de Economistas de Cataluña, AEDAF and the IUSFUL European Legal Network, allowing us to coordinate advisory services across different countries.

Technology-enabled and efficient processes
We use digital tools that facilitate document management, regulatory compliance and communication with our team from anywhere.

Employee Mobility Services for Businesses

Is it really necessary to review each transfer from a legal perspective?

Not all employee transfers have the same implications. In some cases it may simply involve a change of workplace, while in others employment, tax or social security considerations need to be analysed in advance.

When the transfer involves different offices, subsidiaries or even multiple countries, it is important to structure the process correctly in order to avoid employment disputes, unexpected tax obligations or regulatory breaches.

At GCO, we review each situation to determine the legal implications of the transfer and how it should be structured. This allows you to make decisions with greater certainty and ensures that employee mobility is properly organised from the outset.

Process and Methodology

A Clear Path to Excellence for your Company

Our customer-centric process is tailored to your specific needs. From initial analysis to strategy implementation, we are with you every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to your doubts about employee mobility

What is the difference between a transfer, a secondment and expatriation?

A transfer usually involves a permanent change of workplace.
A secondment is temporary and the employee remains employed by the home company.
Expatriation occurs when an employee works abroad for an extended period and may involve tax or social security changes.

What obligations does a company have when relocating an employee?

This depends on the type of mobility involved. In some cases it may require changes to employment conditions, tax analysis or coordination of social security obligations, particularly when multiple jurisdictions or group entities are involved.

¿Cuándo es recomendable analizar un traslado desde el punto de vista legal?

Whenever the relocation involves a significant change in workplace, employment conditions or country of assignment. Reviewing the situation beforehand helps avoid employment disputes, regulatory penalties or unexpected tax issues.

Can an employee continue paying social security in their home country while working abroad?

In some cases this is possible, depending on the duration of the assignment and the applicable international agreements. Each situation must be analysed to determine the appropriate social security regime.

Does intra-group mobility have tax or employment implications?

Yes. When an employee moves between companies within the same group, employment, tax and social security implications may arise and should be analysed in advance to structure the transfer correctly.

Additional Services

Other areas where we can support your business

Employee mobility often intersects with other areas of corporate advisory. At GCO, we also support companies with:

Labour advisory services
We assist with employment contracts, payroll, workplace changes and compliance with labour regulations.

International tax advisory
We analyse the tax implications of operating in multiple jurisdictions and design tax planning strategies adapted to your company’s structure and activities.

Corporate and mercantile advisory
We advise on company formation, corporate structuring and group organisation to support your business operations.

International expansion advisory
We support companies operating in Spain or entering new markets by helping structure their international presence and manage cross-border operations effectively.

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