The COVID-19 pandemic shifted millions of people to work from home. Surprisingly, it turned out that remote work is better for both employees and business owners.
That’s because employees showed increased productivity as they save around 40 minutes daily from commuting. Many companies also now prefer hiring remote workers to save costs.
If you’re working remotely or looking for a remote job, you might ask: can I work from anywhere if I am remote? It’s not always possible.
A remote job doesn’t mean that you can do it from anywhere in the world. This is because certain conditions are needed to facilitate remote work and these conditions might not be present everywhere!
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the challenges that remote workers might face.
Company Policy
Even though many global companies are open to hiring remote workers, that doesn’t mean they accept applicants from every country.
For instance, some companies may require that you live in a country within the same time zone. Other companies may require you to live within the same country that the company operates in, which might not be possible.
Taxes
Taxes are another crucial factor to consider as a digital nomad. Some businesses prohibit changing your location while working remotely. That’s because of differences in employment tax withholding across different states.
Let’s say you’re an American citizen living abroad and working remotely. Depending on where you live and how much you earn, you might be required to pay taxes to your country of residence.
Plus, as an American citizen, you’re still required to file taxes to the U.S. government, even if you’re working remotely. That means you might end up paying multiple taxes in different countries.
Poor Internet Connection
In case your company allows you to work remotely from anywhere, some locations might hinder your work online. For example, some countries have slow internet speeds, which might not help them upload large files or do online meetings.
Furthermore, other countries have poor infrastructure, leading to an inconsistent power supply and weak mobile phone signal. As a result, working with deadlines and online meetings in these countries will impact your job.
Employee Health Benefits And Insurance
Most companies face challenges when their remote workers are frequently changing locations. That’s because they have to deal with complex administration processes to provide health insurance and employee benefits.
Therefore, many companies prefer to hire remote workers as independent constructors or freelancers, not as employees. What’s the difference?
As an employee, you’re eligible for health insurance and employee benefits. You work according to your company’s schedule and get paid either monthly or per hour.
Conversely, as an independent contractor or a freelancer, you set your own schedule and working hours. However, you’re not eligible for health insurance, employee benefits, and retirement savings.
To Sum Up
So you’re asking: can I work from anywhere if I am remote? Be aware that while it’s possible, it’s not always the best option because not all conditions you meet will be favorable to you at all locations.
From tax implications to different time zones, there are a lot of reasons why your company might not allow you to change country while working remotely.
That said, it’s critical to negotiate with your company before you start working. Be clear and ask about the possibility of traveling to other countries while doing your remote job.
