Pebl, an AI-first global employment leader and trusted Employer of Record (EOR) platform, has announced that as organizations scale internationally, compensation is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Flexibility in global work is no longer limited to where employees are located it increasingly extends to how, when, and in what form they are paid.
New insights from Pebl’s Beyond Salary: How the World Wants to Get Paid report, based on a survey of more than 400 HR and finance leaders across the U.S., U.K., and Germany, reveal a clear shift away from uniform compensation models. Instead, employers are moving toward blended pay strategies that incorporate flexibility in payment timing, currency options, and ownership-based rewards.
The findings show that payroll flexibility has evolved into a competitive differentiator in global hiring. However, many organizations are discovering that legacy payroll systems designed around fixed salaries, single currencies, and local banking structures are ill-equipped to support this new level of choice. As a result, HR and finance teams often face growing complexity and compliance risk when trying to meet employee expectations. Pebl’s platform was built specifically to address this next phase of global payroll.
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Payroll Flexibility Is Now a Talent Expectation
Survey data indicates that 60% of leaders report employees want greater flexibility in how they are paid, while an equal percentage say employees want more control over when they receive their earnings. This demand spans earned wage access, currency selection, and alternative compensation formats.
Additional findings include:
Meanwhile, one in five employers is actively exploring nontraditional payroll models, signaling that flexible compensation is shifting from experimentation to strategic planning.
Despite this momentum, a readiness gap remains. While expectations for flexible pay continue to rise globally, 34% of U.S.-based companies plan to maintain a U.S.-centric compensation structure regardless of employee location creating growing friction between global talent expectations and employer capabilities.
“The next frontier of global hiring isn’t just about hiring anywhere it’s about paying in ways that reflect how people actually want to work,” said Francoise Brougher, CEO of Pebl. “Employees want choice, and employers need compliance. The companies that succeed will be those that can deliver both at scale.”
Making Sense of Crypto-Ready, Wallet-Based Payroll
As interest in alternative pay options increases, confusion around crypto payroll remains widespread. Pebl has introduced crypto-ready payroll to offer a compliant path to flexibility without requiring employers to pay wages in cryptocurrency or hold digital assets.
All payroll is processed in local fiat currency, with taxes, FX, and reporting handled in compliance with local regulations. Employees receive funds in licensed bank or digital wallet accounts, allowing them where permitted to independently convert earnings after payroll is completed. This approach provides employee choice while shielding employers from custody, regulatory, and treasury risk.
Unlike limited pilots offered by other providers, Pebl delivers this capability at global scale.
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Unlocking Token Equity for a Global Workforce
The report also highlights rising interest in ownership-based compensation, particularly among AI and Web3 talent. However, extending token-based equity globally introduces significant operational and compliance complexity.
Pebl’s token equity support enables companies to offer digital ownership to global employees without establishing local entities. Employers manage grants and withholdings, while Pebl handles country-specific administrative and reporting requirements.
“Token equity is powerful, but execution is where many organizations struggle,” Brougher added. “That’s where Pebl removes complexity and risk.”
Preparing for the Future of Global Pay
Looking ahead, 40% of leaders believe that by 2030 global compensation will consist of a mix of currencies, equity, and alternative pay models rather than traditional salary-only structures. While regional preferences vary, the trajectory is clear: payroll is becoming more flexible, localized, and strategic.
As the first major EOR to deliver crypto-ready payroll at global scale supported by compliance expertise across more than 185 countries Pebl is helping organizations operationalize the future of compensation. For companies planning the next decade of global growth, mixed pay is no longer theoretical and with Pebl, it’s fully executable.
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