Company Background
A fast-growing lifestyle retail brand headquartered in Singapore was expanding its physical and online presence across Southeast Asia. With flagship stores in Singapore and growing back office operations in Malaysia, the company aimed to build a scalable, regionally distributed team to support both in-store and corporate functions.
Hiring Goals
The company needed to hire front office staff in Singapore to support its retail locations, as well as back office professionals (in areas like marketing, e-commerce, finance, and customer support) in both Singapore and Malaysia. Many of these back office roles were designed to be flexible, either hybrid or remote, to attract a broader talent pool and reduce operational overhead.
Challenges Faced
- Multi-Role Hiring Needs: Required a compliant way to hire both in-store employees (front office) and distributed corporate staff (back office).
- Geographic Spread: The company needed to hire in both Singapore and Malaysia, but did not have local HR or legal infrastructure set up in Malaysia.
- Flexible Work Models: Many back office roles were hybrid or remote, requiring support for a non-traditional work structure.
- Compliance Risks: Hiring across borders without the right employment frameworks posed risks related to payroll, contracts, and statutory contributions.
Solution
Second Talent partnered with the company to support its cross-functional and cross-border hiring needs:
- Front Office Hiring in Singapore: Supported compliant onboarding of store associates and team leads to staff key retail locations.
- Back Office Hiring Across Borders: Enabled the hiring of flexible, hybrid, and remote back office professionals in both Singapore and Malaysia.
- Payroll & Placement Services: Managed payroll, benefits, and official employment placement under Second Talent’s local entities.
- HR Compliance Support: Ensured all employment contracts, contributions, and processes were aligned with local regulations, reducing risk and admin burden.
Results Achieved
With Second Talent’s support, the company quickly scaled its retail and corporate workforce while maintaining flexibility and compliance. By removing the need to set up a Malaysian entity and streamlining payroll and placement, the company accelerated its regional growth while staying focused on brand expansion and customer experience.
Note: This case study is intended for reference purposes.
