Some employers have been encouraging their employees to work abroad over the summer months, sometime for multiple months. Of course, not all employers can afford or facilitate this, but those that have tried the practice vouch for its positive effects on workplace culture and employee satisfaction. Here’s some pros and cons of trying out this unusual working arrangement with your employees.
Productivity
Post-pandemic, employees and employers are both used to working remotely. While productivity losses may have occurred at first, subsequent lockdowns saw much less pronounced drops due to the new ways of working that had been complemented. Now, doing so in a positive way is likely to have little effect on productivity, even increasing due to employee satisfaction. Speaking of…
Employee satisfaction
Changing work environment is a great way to increase employee satisfaction. We all aware of how flexible working can help increase employee satisfaction, so giving an employee even more freedom as to where they work from can only be a positive. Employees may even choose to take some annual leave while abroad to take in a new culture more holistically, or simply get some rest and relaxation.
New employees
With employees working abroad and remotely, it may become difficult to onboard new employees. They may also find it difficult to assimilate socially into a new workplace without the in-person socialisation that comes with an office. As a result, it’s probably worth ensuring that the businesses workload and human resources are balanced before undertaking this practice. That said, the pandemic has made potential employees more used to remote working, just make sure they are also included in the practice.
Time zones
If employee’s jet off to disparate locations around the world, then time zones may begin to come in to play. Even an hour or two-hour difference can have an impact when something needs actioning immediately and someone able to do so has just logged off or hasn’t logged on yet in the morning.
One thing that is important to note is that, depending on how long an employee stays abroad, there may be tax implications from the country that they are staying in. This varies from country to country and the risks are likely to increase in tandem with the amount of time that an employee stays there. As a result, it is best to seek expert advice on the potential tax implications.
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