Sub-national labour law
US wage notices, final-pay timing, and leave stack by state. Canadian employment standards are largely provincial. Do not approve an offer from a federal summary alone.
Americas hiring
Hire in the Americas from the work location, not from the customer’s headquarters.
United States, Canadian, Mexican, and Brazilian employment systems do not share a default termination model, payroll calendar, or extra-pay rule. The employing file follows where the person works, including the state or province.
What repeats across the Americas
Four mechanics that change the employment design
Classification pressure
Contractor use is common in first drafts for US and Latin American commercial roles. Local tests look at direction, tools, and economic dependence. See EOR vs independent contractor.
Statutory extra pay
Mexico’s aguinaldo, Brazil’s 13th salary plus vacation items, and Colombia’s prima de servicios belong in the annual cost model. They are not interchangeable with a US discretionary bonus.
Digital employment records
Brazil’s eSocial and Mexico’s social-security employer portals turn HR events into government filings. Cutoffs and evidence need owners before the first cycle.
Country guides
Open the employment system that will actually run payroll
United States
State employment law, federal payroll taxes, and Form I-9.
CanadaProvincial standards, payroll remittances, and work permits.
MexicoSocial-security employer setup, aguinaldo, and labour administration.
BrazileSocial events, 13th salary, vacation pay, and termination filings.
ChileLabour contracts, the 40-hour reform, and employer pension contributions.
ColombiaSocial-security affiliation, prima de servicios, and cesantías.
Sales hires in these markets also need a tax-presence review. See go-to-market hiring and EOR and permanent establishment.
Americas hiring questions
Headquarters location does not pick the labour statute
Can a US employment contract cover someone working in Canada or Mexico?+
Work location decides the employment system. A person working in Canada or Mexico needs a Canadian or Mexican employing arrangement, even if the manager sits in the United States.
Is at-will employment the default across the Americas?+
No. At-will is a United States concept and even there it is limited by contract, statute, and public policy. Canada, Mexico, and Brazil use notice, cause, and statutory-payment frameworks.
Do Mexico and Brazil require a 13th-month style payment?+
Mexico has aguinaldo. Brazil has a 13th salary and vacation-related items. Budget them as statutory employment cost.
Plan the Americas hire
Share the work location,
Share the work location,
role, and classification facts.
We will map the likely employing route and the state, province, or statutory-pay items that belong in the file.
Last reviewed: 29 September 2026. General operational information only; not legal, tax, or immigration advice.