14 comments

  • hodgesrm 42 minutes ago ago

    My company hires remote staff worldwide. We use Deel and Remote and normally include time zone rather than location if it's relevant. There are countries where we don't hire for geopolitical reasons like China. Having staff in those locations can make it complicated if you seek funding (including loans).

    Having said this most companies I encounter that have overseas workforces set up local corporations where staff work in proper offices. We have a lot of customers so I see this a lot.

  • lucozade 3 days ago ago

    In my experience, legal and tax complexities are more than sufficient to restrict the countries that we have remote workers living in.

    We work globally so practical things like timezones aren't really a factor; we have plenty of experience working around them. That even goes as far as things like personal security in locations that are particularly dangerous. In my line of work that usually means risk of kidnapping. It will be a factor we take into account but wouldn't usually be decisive.

    Having said that, I have been involved in setting up multiple offices in new locations. But only where we're expecting to have a significant presence over the long term. Essentially, where we can amortise the costs of legal and tax expertise.

    Source: reasonably senior executive at a very large, global financial organisation.

    • zerr 2 days ago ago

      B2B contracting solves all of the problems, especially for cross-country collaboration.

    • brcmthrowaway 3 days ago ago

      Are you hiring?

  • general1465 3 days ago ago

    If you want to work remote, then easiest approach is to establish yourself as a company / self employed and do effectively freelancing. Entering into employment contract with somebody outside your legal presence is a problem for lawyers. Paying an invoice to a company somewhere in Eastern Europe is not a big deal.

    • kubanczyk 8 hours ago ago

      Did you try that? These "remote" jobs that OP is describing filter you out instantly because of geography, so there's nobody to speak to about B2B contract.

      These that did not filter me that way, offered both: either regular employment or B2B. These are truly rare, say 2%-5%?

      My guess is that in countries like US, B2B contracts for individual SWEs are considered something very special and snowflake'y. Like they fully expect you to disappear three hours in, never to be seen again.

    • nrhrjrjrjtntbt 3 days ago ago

      There are duck quacking principles. Just because a contract says "Supplier: XYZ Ltd" doesn't mean it isnt employment from a tax and employment law point of view.

      • general1465 3 days ago ago

        In theory yeah, practically whole outsourcing business stands on the fact that nobody will poke too much into "business is paying periodically this one-guy company in India".

  • rozenmd 4 days ago ago

    legal entities cost millions to set up for big companies

    many companies are afraid of the employment laws they don't fully understand

    timezones/cultural differences

    There are still contracts for working remotely at companies like this, but you've gotta be known for solving painful problems that they can't fix themselves

  • tacostakohashi 3 days ago ago

    One thing I learnt eventually is: it's not a good idea do business with any party that would be impractical to sue if need be.

  • polski-g 4 days ago ago

    Meeting times and already existing taxation systems set up in those countries.

  • iFire 4 days ago ago

    Synchronizing meeting schedules is one main reason.

  • y0eswddl 4 days ago ago

    yes, it's all of the above.