Covid-19 changed the way we work. Going from working in the office full time to remote contracts, the world of work looks very different than it did a few years ago. In fact, according to statistics, 16% of UK workers are now fully remote. This means one thing: working abroad is a very real possibility! But it’s not always as simple as rocking up to a beach café and opening your laptop. It can be tricky to navigate, especially with all the bureaucracy involved. To help you get off to a flying start, here are four things to keep in mind when working from abroad.
#1. Legal and tax implications
If you plan to work from abroad, you shouldn’t stay for more than 182 days in the country per year, or you’ll become a legal resident with an obligation to pay tax. This will also vary depending on what country you visit, so it’s always a good idea to check before you set up camp in another country. As well as being a pain for you personally, if you stay too long in another country, this will have implications for your employer as they might not be able to keep an employee who pays tax in a different country. Always make sure you’re aware of the regulations you and your employer need to comply with in your specific case. You will also need to notify HMRC if you wish to live abroad indefinitely or want to work abroad for one tax year.
#2. Time zones
If you’re employed in the UK but work from a different country, you might be in a different time zone. This has the potential to interfere with meetings internally and with clients. So before you make the move, it’s a good idea to check with your employer that you can change your hours to accommodate your new time zone. Otherwise, you could be working very anti-social hours!
#3. Accidents and safety at work
When you’re working on terra firma and have an accident at work, it’s relatively straightforward to follow the relevant procedures and make a personal injury claim if you need to. But things can get a little tricky if you’re working abroad. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to get some sort of work insurance to protect you if the worst was to happen.
#4. Cultural adaptation
If you’re moving somewhere with a different culture, it’s important to remain respectful. Remember, you’re going to work in their country, so you must always be polite. If you’ll be working with locals, you’ll need to adapt to their customs. But even if not, make sure you are treating everyone with common courtesy and kindness.
Now pack your bags and grab your laptop charger – it’s time for a change!
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ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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