With the rise of remote work, more businesses are adding new team members from around the country and even the globe. While widening the hiring range of your company can be incredibly beneficial for attracting and retaining top talent and gaining fresh perspective, a dispersed workforce does come with its own unique challenges.
Between coordinating meetings across time zones to navigating language barriers, there are a number of factors leaders must contemplate before shifting to a remote work model. To help leaders ensure their companies maintain operational efficiency, nine Forbes Business Council members each share one important consideration to keep in mind when bringing on team members who reside in other states or countries.
1. Labor Laws And Tax Regulations
One key consideration when bringing on team members who reside in different states or countries is understanding the labor laws and tax regulations in those locations. This can include minimum wage, overtime and vacation policies as well as termination and safety regulations. Different jurisdictions have significantly different laws, so businesses need to ensure they comply to avoid legal issues later on. – Cris Cawley, Game Changer Publishing
2. General Location Differences
Think about time zone differences and language barriers that can present challenges in coordinating schedules, holding meetings and fostering effective teamwork. Employers should establish clear communication protocols, leverage technology tools for seamless collaboration and promote cultural sensitivity to ensure smooth interactions and maintain a cohesive team dynamic. – Johan Hajji, UpperKey
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3. Cultural Awareness
Understanding and respecting cultural differences, holidays and time zones is crucial when integrating team members from various regions. This awareness can guide communication norms, meeting schedules and expectations, ensuring all members feel valued and included and leading to a more productive and harmonious remote work environment. – Andrei Neacsu, HyperSense Software Inc.
4. Workplace Culture
Foster a culture of curiosity and help all employees develop cultural intelligence skills so they can interact more effectively with people from other cultures and locations. This will reduce social friction while optimizing intellectual friction, fueling new ideas and opportunities. Diverse teams outperform those that are homogeneous because they avoid falling in the groupthink trap. – Andreea Vanacker, SPARKX5
5. Communication Channels And Tools
Clear communication channels and tools should be established to facilitate regular and open communication. Video conferencing tools, instant messaging platforms and project management apps can help bridge the geographical gap and promote real-time interactions. Encouraging active participation, providing timely feedback and ensuring everyone feels heard and included is critical. – Amber Brown, Grant Cardone Licensee
6. Outdated Policies And Practices
Leaders need to update their outdated mid-20th-century policies and practices. We no longer live in an era of straight-white-Christian-American male workers with stay-at-home wives. Organizations must build an inclusive institutional house for today’s more diverse global teams rather than forcing outdated 1950s norms. Leaders need to stop trying to squeeze elephants into houses built for giraffes. – Joseph Santana, Joseph Santana, LLC
7. Remote Training Programs
Develop a robust onboarding and training program specifically designed for remote team members. It’s a crucial component of integrating remote team members into a company successfully. Provide them with the necessary tools, resources and training materials to effectively integrate into the company and perform their roles remotely. – Mark Snell, Polestar Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
8. Technological Discrepancies
One key thing that organizations should consider when hiring talent from around the globe is technological compatibility. Do not assume that your global talent has the same access to tech hardware and collaboration software as your team in the U.S. In fact, these technological discrepancies can sometimes be so deep they affect how you work and collaborate with the team. – Erik Pham, Health Canal
9. Team-Building Strategies
Remote workers can quickly feel like they aren’t part of the team, especially when they’re working in a different time zone. Establish check-in methods and ways for everyone to still feel like they’re part of the same team. Find ways to help those employees feel included in company updates and activities so that they don’t feel like they’re on a desert island. – Ty Allen, SocialClimb
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