Is remote work anywhere a dream? Or can it be turned into a reality? What are the barriers to doing so and the opportunities for companies that get this right?
Welcome to the remote work from anywhere series. This is a series featuring some of the leading people around the world in remote work, global mobility and work from anywhere compliance (remote work tax, employment law, digital nomads, etc.).
One topic that has come up again and again during our WFA series has been the enormous impact of remote work, and work from anywhere, on diversity and inclusion.
In some ways remote work has been the great leveler.
Think about how anybody based anywhere in the world with solid Wi-Fi can now access an unparalleled world of remote work opportunities. Or how that person in a wheelchair who used to struggle with the long commute to work can now switch on their laptop from the comfort of home.
But it has also brought challenges. Think of the two tier workforce in some companies with a presenteeism bias towards those who are in the office.
This was the inspiration behind this week’s episode moderated by John Lee of The Work From Anywhere Team and we were delighted to be joined by Lorraine Charles, Co-Founder of Na’amal and Research Associate at the Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge, Clare Kumar, Productivity and Well-being expert, Founder of HappySpacePod.com and Member of the Staples Work From Anywhere Advisory Council and Tarek Kholoussy, Founder of Nomads Giving Back & Nomads Skillshare.
My favourite quotes referencing the nuances of different cultures and the importance of cultural intelligence:
US: “The squeaky wheel gets the oil”
Asia: “The noisy duck gets shot first!”
Some useful resources discussed during the episode:
- The Boston Globe article Will Remote Workers Get Left Behind in the Hybrid Office
- The Boston Globe article covering the impact to employees with disabilities
- Harvard Business Review article Covid disproportionately affected communities of color
If you’re interested in becoming a guest on the webinar series, please reach out to us here.
Should you need help with any of your remote work tax or compliance risks, The Work From Anywhere Team would be delighted to help you out! Just reach out via our website.
The Work From Anywhere Team
