COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we work for good. While many employers have some form of remote working policy in place that pre-dates the pandemic, wider movement in this direction has been accelerated. As an increasing number of employees are granted the flexibility to work from home, it is inevitable that some will ask "does home have to be in the UK?".

At the start of the pandemic many employees left the UK, taking the opportunity to spend time closer to family, or maybe in a second home, and may now be asking whether the arrangement can be made permanent. While a "work from anywhere" policy is attractive to employees and potential new recruits, the effort in implementing such a policy should not be underestimated. There is no blanket policy or approach that can be put in place, with immigration, tax and employment restrictions differing according to the specific circumstance. Factors such as the nationality or immigration status of the individual, the country they are hoping to work from and the length of time they would like the arrangement to be in place all need to be considered.

As we look toward a post-pandemic future, now is the time to consider your approach to international remote working. We can help you with the vastly different considerations you will need to address. Whether you are looking to implement a company-wide 'work from anywhere' policy or wish to take a more individualised approach, our multidisciplinary team of experts from employment, immigration, tax, health and safety and data protection can advise on issues ranging from qualification criteria, approval processes, remote support, policy and procedures and assessing risk factors.

International Remote Working Brochure

Click here to download our guide to international remote working, in which we walk you through the risks to consider before implementing an international remote working policy, or deciding an individual request.

Managing International Remote Working webinar

Watch the recording of our Managing International Remote Working webinar where we discuss the considerations when implementing a "work from anywhere" policy, and managing the rise in international remote workers and digital nomads. In this interactive virtual session we discuss the rise and implications of international remote working through a number of case studies you may already find familiar, or be faced with in the near future. We will look at the growing attractiveness of a "work from anywhere" policy to employees and potential new recruits, deciding on individual requests, how the effort in implementing such a policy should not be underestimated, and the vastly different considerations you will need to address.