The pandemic has altered the working landscape, showing that remote work is just as productive as in-office work. As a result, employees today are happier and more productive, with employers offering remote work more frequently than ever before. This paradigm shift has created opportunities for businesses to expand their talent pool globally, and startups can particularly benefit by hiring remote workers.
Victor Anaya, CEO and cofounder of Serviap Global, a company that offers international employer of record services to companies looking to hire globally, believes that startups can leverage their energy and ideas by hiring talented and experienced employees from abroad. Anaya asserts that startups need not be constrained by salaries, as highly skilled talent with experience in world-class companies are often available in other territories at a lower cost.
Furthermore, Anaya has noticed the increasing importance of STEM subjects, particularly IT-focused professions, prompting governments and international bodies to place greater emphasis on their promotion. Consequently, startups in the United States are seeking new, tech-savvy markets, with many countries worldwide offering pools of top-quality professionals, with some emerging as specialists in particular sub-fields.
In the past, small- and medium-sized enterprises may have found global hiring daunting due to foreign regulations and language barriers, thus presenting considerable challenges. However, in today’s interconnected world, hiring remote workers has become more viable, offering opportunities for companies to establish or expand their distributed workforce. Companies can consider hiring through an employer of record service, working with a professional employer organization, or hire contractors.
When choosing to work with an employer of record company, Anaya advises startups to consider the services they require and the territories they plan to target before looking at the market and partnering with different companies in different countries. Startups must also determine how much customer services they require, how often updates need to be given or received, and whether they prefer independent employees. Larger companies may offer lower costs due to their economies of scale, while smaller firms may offer a more bespoke service at a price. Nonetheless, the decision ultimately depends on the startup’s specific needs.
While hiring remote workers can speed up expansion, it comes at a cost. Startups must ensure they have identified their initial needs and not pay for services they don’t use. Likewise, they must consider the possibility of missing out on valuable services.
Overall, startups can benefit from hiring remote workers globally. Through proper planning and consideration of services required, they can attract highly skilled talent that may have been unattainable otherwise.
