The challenge: Establishing and supporting HR operations for an international company entering the French market
• Industry: Transport/Logictics
• Headcount: 14 employees (France)
• Client HQ: Mexico
• French Entity: Established in 2024
• Mission Duration: Since April 2024 (ongoing)
xpd global is an international logistics and transportation company.
When launching its French subsidiary, the group partnered with HReact to outsource HR operations and ensure full legal compliance from day one.
HReact designed and implemented a compliant and scalable HR structure aligned with French labor laws and administrative requirements. The key objectives were:
-Support rapid business growth
-Guarantee compliance with French employment law
-Control HR-related costs
-Align local HR practices with global group standards
Scalable
HR setup
aligned with
French law
HReact delivered a comprehensive, customized and scalable outsourced HR solution tailored to the needs of a newly established international entity in France.
HR Compliance Setup
-Drafted French employment contracts
-Implemented mandatory health and welfare benefits, legal workplace postings, and managed the payroll process
-Registered the company with the occupational health service (médecine du travail) and coordinated all mandatory medical check-ups
Working Time Framework
-Drafted a custom company agreement to define working hours in full compliance with French labor regulations and applicable collective agreements
Social Contributions Optimization
-Successfully contested the initial occupational injury rate assigned by authorities
>>Reduced from 5.22% to 1.68%, generating significant savings on employer social contributions
Employee Benefits Implementation
-Introduced meal vouchers for employees
-Set up company cars with accurate payroll integration of benefits in kind, compliant with URSSAF rules
Training & Skills Development Funding
-Structured and submitted funding applications to the OPCO
>>Achieved 100% coverage of management training costs
Operational HR Management
-Recruited a work-study student, securing access to government subsidies and OPCO financing
Multi-site Growth Management
-Supported the creation of secondary establishments, managed the resulting payroll implications, and ensured alignment with relevant social security bodies
Ongoing HR Support
-Over a 16-month period:
>>17 hires managed (permanent, fixed-term, interns, apprentices)
>>2 departures handled
Occupational injury rate reduced
from
5.22% to 1.68%
100%
of manager training programs funded by the OPCO
17 hires
and 2 exits successfully managed in 16 months
The success of xpd global’s French expansion was driven by a combination of hands-on support, expert guidance, and seamless collaboration.
-Early involvement: Compliance ensured from the first hire, establishing solid HR foundations
-French labor law expertise: Payroll, collective agreements, and social charges expertly managed
- Proactive, tailored approach: HR needs anticipated to avoid legal and operational issues
-Effective use of public funding: Training schemes leveraged for fully funded management programs
-Agile HR management: Rapid team growth supported without compromising compliance
-Transparent communication:
•Weekly meetings with Country Manager for agility
•Regular check-ins with EMEA HR Director to align with global policies
Global alignment
via regular
HR check-ins