Remote Work: A Brief Discussion
Remote work is any job performed outside of traditional office space. The flexibility allows a remote employee to accomplish tasks from their homes, coworking spaces, coffee shops, or other places that are not company-sponsored.
The remote work arrangement became popular during the pandemic due to lockdowns and restrictions. As the economy recovers from the aches of COVID-19, some companies opted to maintain the remote work setup. The trend of working outside of the office continues to rise because of multiple benefits like sizable savings from office utilities–rent, electricity, water, and cleaning services. Additionally, business owners delegate repetitive tasks to virtual teams to gain more time for other more important roles.
According to Forbes, another major driver of remote work in the modern workforce is the rising demand for global talent. Internet access and technology have eliminated the geographical limitations in hiring remote foreign workers who are talented and qualified. Moreover, several digital tools and technological advancements greatly influence success when businesses hire foreign workers and foreign contractors.
Can US Companies Hire Remote Workers From a Foreign Country?
Yes! It is now a common practice among US-based businesses to hire remote employees from a different country. Local employment laws allow companies to onboard international remote workers as independent contractors.
American companies typically connect with outsourcing-offshoring agencies that can help them hire remote workers overseas. A legitimate agency can introduce business owners to qualified foreign individuals. Depending on the specific needs of a business, a reliable and trustworthy agency will find and select skilled parties and conduct necessary background checks.
Commonly, organizations pay foreign employees to handle basic administrative jobs, manage front desk duties, and take care of repetitive tasks.
Impact On Company Culture Of Hiring Foreign Employees
According to a payroll solutions firm, company culture plays a critical role in shaping the overall work environment and employee experience. Traditionally, company culture has been cultivated through in-person interactions, shared physical spaces, and a sense of belonging fostered by face-to-face communication. However, as hiring overseas employees becomes normal, business owners must find innovative ways to preserve and nurture their work culture in the absence of traditional office settings.
The major differences observed between working in-person and working remotely indicate challenges in building a strong remote business culture.
Work Components Affected By Hiring Remote Workers
Communication and Collaboration
Remote working can have an impact on the manner of communication and collaboration at work. The remote work arrangement promotes communication and collaboration with the use of digital tools.
According to Indeed, the shift to digital communication can eventually lead to a loss of informal and spontaneous in-office interactions that help build relationships and a strong sense of teamwork.
Companies with remote international workers can promote virtual collaboration by establishing clear channels of communication and encouraging open and transparent dialogue among team members. It is also a good step to leverage technology to facilitate seamless communication, such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management tools.
Flexibility and Autonomy
A company employing foreign workers indicates that it supports flexibility.
Unlike local employees, remote employees have the autonomy to manage their work schedules and locations. The flexibility is offered to remote employees to enhance job satisfaction and promote trust.
However, flexibility can also lead to a lack of clear boundaries between work and personal life. To ensure productivity with foreign employees, companies can utilize project management tools and show respect for employees’ private time.
When implemented with employee-friendly policies, a working-from-anywhere setup can increase employee engagement leading to an increase in productivity and eventually in business revenue.
A study revealed during an average workday, employees with less stress take fewer breaks in between smaller tasks. On the other hand, burned-out workers are prone to taking regular breaks and have a hard time finding focus in completing any task. A way to address this struggle in the office, employers are urged to shift to a work-from-anywhere setup to allow employees to find more time with their family that may help with their outlook.
Inclusivity and Diversity
There are several methods to foster inclusivity and diversity with an in-office work arrangement. The harmonious culture may be impacted by a sudden shift to a remote job setup.
The absence of physical presence in a group as in an office may create feelings of isolation and exclusion. When facing such challenges, employers can facilitate inclusivity and diversity virtually by accommodating the needs of employees related to working offsite like providing financial assistance for internet connectivity.
Employees naturally grow to become competent and skilled when they receive the necessary training, have access to a communication tool, and receive moral and financial support. Business Daily News mentioned, that showing employees that you value them can improve engagement, retention, productivity, and morale.
Moreover, companies can practice a skills-based hiring process when onboarding independent contractors. Skills-based hiring is a recruitment approach in which candidates are evaluated based on quantifiable talents and skills rather than subjective factors like gender, race, and education. This method promotes a culture of valuing diversity and inclusion.
Work-Life Balance
Does your company give value to the holistic health of employees? If yes, then your culture of work-life balance can be enhanced with flexible remote work policies.
Hiring an international talent can benefit both the employer and foreign employee. A common feedback from business owners who have had experience hiring at least one foreign worker is that they gained significant time to attend to more relevant work and even personal matters. As a business owner, one way you can achieve balance in life is by distributing time-consuming tasks to an experienced remote employee.
On the other hand, work-life balance among remote workers has also improved mainly due to the elimination of daily travel. The time spent commuting is turned to doing hobbies that boost mental health or enjoying quality time with family.
For Cultural Compatibility, Hire Remote Workers From The Philippines
Several foreign countries have proved that they can provide qualified workers to perform various tasks for businesses in America. One country that emerged as a powerhouse for international remote employees is the Philippines. Remote staff from the Philippines established in the globalized workforce that they possess unique advantages over other countries like cultural compatibility.
Filipinos share a strong cultural affinity with Western countries, particularly the United States.
Cultural compatibility benefits businesses because familiarity with Western work practices, holidays, and ethics simplifies the international hiring and integration of Filipino employees into diverse teams. The high rate of compatibility allows for fostering a harmonious work environment.
A blog mentioned the exposure of Filipinos to Western media materials allows them to immerse themselves in Western culture. Their exceptional English skills make it easy for them to understand Western movies, books, and other media, providing them with insight into the cultural intricacies of the West.
Other Advantages Of Hiring Remote Workers From The Philippines
- Cost Efficiency
The Philippines proved a cost-effective solution for businesses looking to optimize budgets without compromising on talent.
Professional remote foreign workers from the Philippines have modest salary expectations and lower living costs compared to local workers in America. This allows business owners to onboard qualified individuals while also acquiring significant savings compared to hiring from more expensive regions.
According to a report, a company can save up to 75% of the wages when they hire employees who provide remote services compared to the wages Western employers normally pay a local talent.
Businesses can save on local payroll and other resources normally spent on compliance with tax laws, health insurance, and social security because a remote employee works as an independent contractor.
- Exceptional English Proficiency
Filipinos are known for their proficiency in English, making communications seamless and reducing language barriers commonly encountered when outsourcing to other countries. This linguistic capability enhances collaboration, understanding, and overall productivity in remote work setups.
Due to historical ties with America, English is one of the official languages in the Philippines, as discussed by LinkedIn. Additionally, the EF English Proficiency Index ranks the country as the second nation with the highest English proficiency in Asia.
- 24/7 Operations Support For Companies
Experts believe that providing customer support round-the-clock will greatly contribute to the steady growth of any venture. To meet customer expectations, business operations should run all day—24/7.
The geographical location of the Philippines has become one of its best features in providing remote services. Employers can capitalize on the timezone difference to maintain relationships and fulfill client requirements.
- Tech Savvy Workforce
According to the State of Digital Marketing in the Philippines, the Philippines ranks second in Southeast Asia and sixth in the whole of Asia in terms of the number of internet users. This shows how Filipinos are a very tech-savvy population.
The Philippines has seen rapid growth in technology adoption. Filipinos continue to develop their proficiency in digital tools and platforms, this is crucial for remote collaboration and ensures a smooth transition to virtual work environments.
A Guide To Hiring Foreign Remote Workers And International Employees
If you are interested in hiring foreign workers, contact Remote Raven now. The workforce solutions company has a diverse talent pool composed of experienced and qualified Filipino remote workers. A Talent Acquisition Specialist can connect your business to highly-skilled foreign workers.
Additionally, Remote Raven is familiar with the labor laws in America. Given that, your business can onboard Filipino overseas employees without breaking any regulations. The outsourcing-offshoring agency will help you throughout the process of hiring international remote workers, more specifically Filipino talents.
Contact Remote Rave now and schedule an appointment!
