Working for a company in Europe from a dream destination on the other side of the world can seem very tempting. However, as explained by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, we must not neglect the other side of the decor. First of all, this way of life often called “workation”, a contraction of work (“work”) and vacation (“holidays”), is not that appealing to most employees. In a study conducted by Florian Kunze, professor of organizational behavior at the University of Konstanz, Germany, it appears that “only 12% of employees surveyed want to work remotely permanently, and there are even fewer among managers”. The desire to use hybrid work, that is to say a mixture of remote and face-to-face work, is in the majority.
In any case, even for a few weeks or a few months, teleworking, especially from abroad, presents many challenges.
On the employee side: the points of vigilance
- Jet lag : Mark Bartels (this is a pseudonym) spent a month working for Germany from Florida. “The stay really changed the biorhythm of this management consultant”, note it Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Also, beware of the urge to take advantage of jet lag and work all the time.
- Administrative issues: Mark Bartels had the agreement of his N+1 and his boss, but “the customer and the human resources department have been left out”. In effect, “I don’t know if it would have been accepted, he said. There are problems with labor law, with tax issues and with insurance.” This omission could have had serious consequences.
- The equipment: Of course, it is essential to have a good Internet connection. But you also have to think about a good chair, a good table, air conditioning if you are in a hot country and a second screen, especially if you are handling a lot of data, tables and documents at the same time. Not so obvious when you’re away from home. Otherwise, “data protection is also a challenge and must be ensured abroad”, adds Florian Kunze.
- self-discipline: In order not to be overworked by having the impression of taking advantage of the jet lag, nor to be tempted, conversely, by a life of vacationer, this quality is precious. “You have to be able to concentrate, define clear frameworks and objectives”, emphasizes Florian Kunze.
Not so easy for employers
- Additional costs: For companies too, teleworking from abroad can be complicated. Indeed, when a contract is signed abroad by an employee, it is sometimes necessary to pay local taxes. Moreover, the same can apply to social security contributions as soon as the stay abroad exceeds 183 days in the calendar year.
- Unequal treatment: In addition, some companies are afraid to grant telework abroad to their executives, as this would be perceived as an additional advantage which certain categories of workers, who are often less well paid and whose presence on the premises is necessary, cannot benefit from. .
- Integration difficulties: Starting a new job from abroad or joining a team with distant colleagues often makes it difficult to take up the job.
Did you go to work from abroad? How did you live this experience? What difficulties did you encounter? What advice would you have liked to receive before departure? Would you recommend this lifestyle? Tell us by writing to us at [email protected] and we will publish your testimony.