• HR Software
    HR科技圈硅谷悬疑剧——Deel和Rippling“企业间谍案”骤然升级,美国司法部介入调查 目前双方案件的最大进展,并非双方在民事诉讼中的相互指控或所谓“间谍细节”,而是美国司法部正式启动刑事调查并发出大陪审团传票。这意味着事件性质已从企业间商业纠纷升级为可能涉及联邦刑责的法律审查,风险层级从“赔偿问题”上升为“合规与刑事责任问题”。值得关注! 硅谷风起云涌,在传统技术战争之外,一场隐秘的企业竞争对决,正以戏剧性的节奏推进。 案情回顾:两个巨头,越界的竞争 人力资源与全球薪资软件市场,长期由两家硅谷公司同时领跑。一边是成立于 2019 年的 Deel Inc.,专注于全球范围内员工雇佣与薪酬合规服务;另一边是成立更早的 Rippling,以一体化 HR 与 IT 平台闻名。两家公司业务高度重叠,市场争夺激烈。 2025 年春天,一桩惊动业内的民事诉讼爆发:Rippling 指控 Deel 在其内部安插“间谍”,窃取产品路线图、客户线索等敏感资料,并指控这一行动由 Deel 高层策划、指挥。 更具戏剧性的是,这名被控为内线的前 Rippling 员工 Keith O’Brien 在爱尔兰法院递交的宣誓书中称,他曾按指示访问大量内部信息,并提取有价值数据。 悬疑一:非法资金流的蛛丝马迹 案件文件披露了一个细节:一笔金额为 6000 美元 的转账,首先从与 Deel 有关联的企业账户划入 Deel 首席运营官妻子账户,随后几乎在数秒后由该账户转给 O’Brien。此举引发争议,外界质疑资金路径是否用以掩盖真实目的。 这一细节被对方律师团队公开后成为争论焦点,也成为这场民事案件中“隐藏动机”和“隐秘交易”的关键证据之一。 悬疑二:巅峰对决的继续 Deel 对所有指控一贯予以否认,称其并不知晓所谓“刑事调查”,并强调公司将配合当局所需的合法询问。同时,Deel 方面反诉 Rippling 进行“恶意抹黑”及不正当竞争。 本案交锋直接将两家公司推向了公众与资本市场的聚光灯下。但令人意外的是,在这些法律纠纷之际,Deel 在 2025 年 10 月成功完成新一轮融资,将估值从 120 亿美元提升至约 173 亿美元,表现出了商业扩张的强劲势头。 重大转折:民事战升级成联邦调查 2026 年 1 月的最新爆点,是来自美国 司法部(DOJ)对这一案件展开 刑事调查 的消息——调查与此前的民事诉讼不同,涉及联邦层面的潜在违法行为审查。美国加利福尼亚北区联邦检察官据称已发出 大陪审团传票,要求调取与这场所谓“间谍行动”相关的证据。 这一调查的启动并不代表已有刑事指控提交法院,而是意味着联邦检察机关正在审查事件是否触及刑事层面的违法标准。 案件背后的问号 这场硅谷版“企业间谍案”之所以吸引关注,不仅是因为涉案企业体量巨大,更因为它涉及多个层面的复杂问题: 信任与合规之间的界线在哪里? 企业竞争边缘行为是否触及刑法红线?目前 DOJ 的调查正聚焦这些问题。 资金路径是否合理透明? 转账行为背后的动机与责任人是谁?是否存在掩饰真实用途的意图?这些细节仍在调查中。 民事案件与刑事调查如何交织? 如果 DOJ 认为有刑法相关的证据,可能会推动案件从民事层面向刑事层面转向。 行业影响:HR 科技公司也不再是温和的领域 风投巨头、数十亿美元估值、IPO 规划——在科技领域,这是一场看似“成功创业者”的典型剧本。然而,当竞争转向 Espionage Allegations(间谍指控)时,这部现实剧便带上了更深的法律和伦理层面。 如业内专家所言,这一调查的走向可能成为 HR SaaS 领域对商业机密保护、合规竞争规则乃至企业治理标准的一次重大检验。
    HR Software
    2026年01月25日
  • HR Software
    National Advertising Division Finds Certain Deel Payroll and HRIS Claims Supported; Recommends Others be Modified or Discontinued BBB全国项目的国家广告部(NAD)对Deel公司在其薪资和人力资源信息系统(HRIS)方面的广告声明进行了审查,回应了竞争对手Rippling提出的挑战。NAD认为,Deel的部分声明,如“每年节省高达$20,000”和“行业领先的全球薪资软件”是有依据的。然而,NAD建议修改或停止某些其他声明,特别是关于与Rippling的比较、法律合规性和客户支持的声明。NAD认为,Deel的“本地化”和“内部运营”薪资服务声明需要进一步澄清,并建议调整对Rippling的比较方式。此外,NAD要求停止使用“全球HR市场领导者”的称号,因为没有确凿证据支持这一说法。Deel已表示将遵守NAD的决定,进一步确保其广告的真实性和透明度。此次审查反映了NAD对广告真实性的持续关注,确保消费者能够获得准确的信息,同时促进公平竞争。 In a challenge brought by competitor People Center, Inc. d/b/a Rippling, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division determined that Deel, Inc., in connection with its Payroll and Human Resource Information System (HRIS), provided a reasonable basis for certain claims, including Deel’s “save up to $20,000 per year” claim and accompanying chart, as well as the claim that Deel has an “industry leading global payroll software.” New York, NY, Aug. 08, 2024 -- In a challenge brought by competitor People Center, Inc. d/b/a Rippling, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division determined that Deel, Inc., in connection with its Payroll and Human Resource Information System (HRIS), provided a reasonable basis for certain claims, including Deel’s “save up to $20,000 per year” claim and accompanying chart, as well as the claim that Deel has an “industry leading global payroll software.” However, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Deel modify or discontinue certain other claims, including comparative claims versus Rippling’s native payroll software, legal compliance, and customer support. The parties are human resources and payroll service providers that offer multiple services. Native and In-House Payroll Claims Rippling challenged claims about “native” and “in-house” payroll systems that appeared in charts on Deel’s website: “Payroll service is native and operated in-house in every country – Deel ✓, Rippling X” “Payroll service is native and operated in-house in every country – Deel ✓ Yes, Rippling X No, they currently use partners in some countries. The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that customers could reasonably take away the message that native payroll includes native payroll software. Further, customers may reasonably take away the message that Rippling does not offer in-house and native payroll in all the countries in which it offers global payroll (outside of employer of record). Therefore, NAD recommended that Deel modify these claims by clearly and conspicuously defining what “native” means and clarifying that the comparison with Rippling also includes countries where they offer payroll as part of their employer of record services. Industry-Leading Payroll Claim Deel claims on its website to have “[i]ndustry leading global payroll software” and, in a smaller font, “Deel is a leader in multi-country payroll and contractor payments, according to G2 user reviews.” The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that the phrase “global payroll software” means that Deel offers payroll software globally—whether that is in-house or through a third-party. Further, NAD considered the language and the context in which the “industry leading” language appears and concluded the claim does not convey a superlative message. Consumers are likely to take away the message that Deel is among the top in the industry, but not necessarily the best. Since the record indicates that Deel has significant revenue, market presence, and a large global footprint, and there is no dispute that Deel and Rippling are among the many leaders in the global payroll market, NAD concluded that this claim was not false or misleading. HRIS Comparative Claims Rippling challenged claims on Deel’s website that customers can “[s]witch to Deel HR and save up to $20,000 per year.” An accompanying chart below the claim lists seven product features with Rippling and Deel displaying checkmarks for each feature. The chart states that Deel is “Free for companies with less than 200 employees” while Rippling costs “$8 employee/month.” The National Advertising Division (NAD) concluded that because both products offer the touted features, it is not misleading to characterize Deel’s software as having those product features and that the product comparison chart is not misleading. HRIS Superlative Claims The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that there was no evidence in the record to support an unqualified claim that Deel is #1 in the market. Therefore, NAD recommended that Deel discontinue the claims: “The market leader in the Global HR space.” “Build confidence in your compliance with the #1 Global HR platform.” Preference Claim The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that data relied on by Deel is not a good fit for its claim that “Teams prefer Deel over Rippling for global HR and Payroll” because it did not indicate a preference for one product over another. Accordingly, NAD recommended that the claim be discontinued. Compliance Claims Rippling challenged claims about legal compliance that appeared in charts on Deel’s website: “Network of 200+ local legal hiring experts around the world -- ✓ Yes, Rippling X No” “Compliance document collection for contractors, on top of EOR, constantly reviewed and updated.” The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that in context it is reasonable to take away the message that Rippling has an inferior network of legal experts around the world, and it does not offer compliance document collection. Since Deel submitted no evidence in support of these two claims, NAD recommended it discontinue the comparative part of these claims as they relate to Rippling and cease conveying the messages that there are legal risks associated with using Rippling products and that Rippling’s products are not compliant. NAD noted that nothing in its decision would prevent Deel from advertising its network of local legal hiring experts or comparing its compliance services to Rippling’s so long as they do not claim that Rippling lacks a network of 200+ local legal hiring experts around the world or compliance document collection for contractors. Customer Support Claims The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that the comparative claim that Rippling does not offer multi-channel support is not false or misleading. However, NAD concluded that the unqualified claim, “Deel’s support is in-house, reliable, and faster than Rippling” is not supported and recommended that it be discontinued or modified to make clear the circumstances and times when its support would be faster and avoid conveying the message that Rippling’s customer support is unreliable. Further, NAD determined that Deel’s claim “Same level of service in every country with centralized communications – Deel ✓ Yes, Rippling X No, as they use partners in some places,” is not supported because there is no evidence about the level of service provided by Rippling in any country. Therefore, NAD recommended that the claim be discontinued. During the proceeding Deel permanently discontinued and modified certain claims. Therefore, NAD did not review these claims on their merits and will treat the claims, for compliance purposes, as though NAD recommended they be discontinued. In its advertiser statement, Deel stated that it will comply with NAD’s decision. All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org. About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.
    HR Software
    2024年08月10日