Globally Remote Working

The new global landscape

The way in which we work has changed dramatically over the last year

This change has forced many employers and employees to seek new ways of engaging in their work. Globally Remote Working helps employers empower their employees to work anywhere in the world where, when and how they choose.

Work is an activity we do, rather than a place we go. In principle, many jobs can be done anywhere. With advances in technology and communications, it has never been easier for employers to adopt a globally agile work culture.

Globally agile approaches have become common with many organisations, especially in the tech sector, but this is now spreading quickly to other industries and many different types of businesses are now embracing Globally Remote Working.

Pressure is mounting on HR to adopt a more agile approach permanently, and we recommend businesses review their policies and strategies to take advantage of the opportunities and manage the risks.

What does Globally Remote Working look like in practice?

A UK employee working from home in the Netherlands
A German employee working from home in the UK
A UK director that lives overseas

What are the benefits to an employer?

Gain a competitive advantage and grow more quickly: We are seeing a big increase in employers using Globally Remote Working as a way to expand faster.
Quickly source global talent: Hire the best and the brightest from anywhere in the world and win the global war on talent. Technological advancements have made it possible for organisations to source and reach qualified candidates anywhere in the world.
Reduce costs: An employee living in a different country may actually have lower employer costs, such as social security taxes. Take advantage of the tax planning options available
Sustainability: Increase your organisations sustainability by reducing the time your employees spend travelling, cutting their carbon footprint.

What are the benefits to an employee?

No commuting, enabling people to spend more time with family: You can work from a lakeside villa, a hilltop mountain retreat or your kitchen table. The global pandemic has made people focus on what is important in their lives; working to live, not living to work.
Overcomes the real or perceived restrictions to physical mobility: Globally Remote Working removes barriers like quarantine and social distancing as well as concerns about travelling.
Remove geographical limitations: No visas or need to move the employee or their family, causing less disruption to family life and schooling arrangements.

How we can help?

Traditionally, recruitment has been organisation focused, and it is assumed that the candidate is looking for a role and seeks out the right company. Now there is an increased need to be applicant focused, so organisations must find ways to attract talent who may not be actively looking and offer opportunities competitors cannot match.

Your strategy should therefore use Globally Remote Working as part of a range of strategies to ensure you have the right talent, in the right place, at the right time. Each approach will have its benefits and drawbacks, so effectively using the right talent mix to solve your needs is crucial.

We will help you:

Reduce compliance risks from Globally Remote Working: Employees working outside their country of employment can often trigger employer tax reporting obligations unintentionally. This ‘hidden compliance’ can catch out those employers who do not manage these obligations proactively. Working anywhere has its benefits but there are also risks that need to be managed.
Build a roadmap to improve your global talent supply chain: This will enable your organisation to grow globally and quickly. We will help you meet increasing employee demands for more flexibility and enable you to look overseas to hire talent, expanding your global talent pool.
Establish a Global Talent Network: An ecosystem with talent clusters around key locations to attract the best people and increase your competitiveness.
Build a ‘Globally Remote Working’ tax policy: Understand best practices and learn from those who have done this.

"The global landscape is certainly changing, as employees can now work remotely where and when they want - this ‘work from anywhere’ approach brings many benefits but employers will need to fully understand and manage international compliance obligations effectively."
Mark Abbs, Partner, Head of Global Mobility

NEW - Episode 3:

The 4 Key TRAPs of Global Remote Working

Hybrid working has been a key outcome for many businesses following the global pandemic, but are you prepared for the four TRAPs?

In this episode we discuss the issues businesses are facing, and how to overcome them. Joining in the conversation from Blick Rothenberg is Mark Abbs, partner and head of the Global Mobility team and Alan Tam, Global Mobility Partner. Our guest is Harvey Perkins, director of HRUX - a company which focuses on delivering technology solutions for clients with complex tax and related issues.

Listen to more episodes