Avoiding Immigration Pitfalls in Cross-Company Collaboration

Aug 25, 2021 | Human Resources Services

Cross-organizational collaboration in the Life Sciences industry is a staple for breakthrough innovation and scaling product distribution.  Working together brings exciting opportunities to address and build new solutions that provide greater impact, reach, and shared profitability.

Successful collaboration was perhaps at its strongest during the development of Covid-19 vaccines. The challenges of the pandemic brought together experts from across the pharma industry, government, and academia. The collaborative efforts culminated in the development of therapies and diagnostics at a highly expedited pace. Without these global partnerships, timelines would have stretched, and success may have been more elusive.

From a staffing perspective, it is not uncommon for employees with specific skillsets to be temporarily contracted out to a partner company.  This can raise challenges, however, as current travel policies, visa conditions, and immigration restrictions can make that arrangement complicated for foreign-born workers.

Typically, foreign-born workers are authorized to perform a specific job for a specific employer – any roles outside of the visa parameters may require additional authorizations. To increase the flexibility and utility of the global workforce, Life Sciences leaders and HR professionals should know the options available to them.

Partnering and collaborating within the Life Sciences industry is essential for increased innovation; HR can and should empower that mission. At WR, we work with both HR professionals and foreign-born employees to help ensure that you, your company, and your employees find the right immigration solution to advance your goals. 

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