Oyster

What it is

Oyster is a global employment platform that lets companies hire and pay full-time employees in other countries through its employer of record (EOR) service, and hire and pay contractors. As of 2026-09 Oyster says it operates in "180+ countries", describes itself as a certified B Corp, and says onboarding can be "as fast as 48 hours" (source: oysterhr.com).

Why it matters to you

If an offer says you will be employed "through Oyster", its local entity or partner in your country becomes your legal employer, running payroll, tax withholding and statutory benefits, while the company directs your work. The same questions apply as for any EOR: who signs your contract, what benefits are statutory versus extra, and how the job can end.

Published prices (the company's cost, as of 2026-09)

Oyster's homepage lists EOR at $699 per employee per month and global contractors at $29 per contractor per month (source: oysterhr.com). These are paid by the employer. Seeing them helps you understand the trade-off a company makes between hiring you as an employee or a contractor, which can come up when you negotiate.

How to use it on this roadmap

• Compare Oyster's published model with Deel and Remote to understand EOR arrangements in general.
• When an offer arrives through any EOR, ask for your full employment contract, a gross-to-net estimate for your country and a list of benefits.
• Read notice, probation and termination terms before you sign.

What it is not

Oyster is not a job board. You will not usually sign up with it yourself; an employer chooses it.

Safety note

Complete onboarding only through links from Oyster's real domain after you have a verified offer, and never pay any fee to be employed through an EOR.

Common questions

Do I pay Oyster? No, employers pay.

Does EOR mean I get health insurance? Only if your contract includes it; statutory benefits vary by country.

Can a company switch EOR providers? Yes, which may mean signing a new contract; read it carefully.