We’ve gotten so used to remote working that it doesn’t even feel like that big of a change anymore. But it actually is. Especially in the APAC region, where employers must consider each country’s set of holidays and labor laws, as well as the cultural differences between employees.
Long story short – simple as it is, remote work still requires you to put to make it successful. If this is your work model of choice, let’s see what you can do to make it work!
Why businesses are turning to remote work across APAC
The reasons why they’re turning to remote work are pretty much the same for businesses across the world. However, the APAC comes with more regional advantages in terms of:
- Finding great talent: With 36 countries in the APAC region (Asia-Pacific), you have quite the talent pool to choose from. And since many potential employees value work-life balance, you’ll have no trouble attracting them with your remote job offer.
- Relying on technology: No, technology isn’t isolated to the APAC region only, but eSIM Vietnam is said to be developing faster than in other places. This means that no matter where they are, your employees can stay connected without having to change SIM cards.
- Reducing operational costs: The best thing about it is that you could reside in a low-cost country but still be able to hire top talent from other places. You’ll have no office space to pay for, no utility bills, no daily expenses such as commuting–no nada.
Seeing that remote work works just fine with both employees and employers, we can safely say that it’s here to stay. But just because this model allows for more freedom doesn’t mean you should kick back. Instead, you should consider the following tools to make it more successful.
Essential tools to make remote work successful
You might think that remote work is easier than going to the office regularly. It might be more beneficial in some aspects, but there are a lot of ways in which remote work can go sideways.
Since you’ll all be working from home, communication between employees can easily break down. Because no matter what anyone says, virtual communication isn’t the same as face-to-face conversations. Around 53% of remote workers have said that they find it hard to stay connected with their coworkers. For it to work, you have to make an extra effort.
Productivity can also take a hit. Because even the most hardworking employees can be distracted without proper commitment. Staying focused can suddenly become a challenge.
These are simply the biggest risks associated with remote working. But they don’t have to happen. If you plan it right and use the necessary tools, you’ll have no troubles whatsoever.
Stay connected with communication and tools collaboration.
Let’s address the communication issue first. Giving assignments to each of your employees through Slack is the least of your worries. Technology has made sure of that. You need to make sure that your employees collaborate on projects through both video calls and real-time messaging. You can also have one-on-one meetings to chat about work or life in general.
We’re social creatures by nature, and we shouldn’t let this be taken away from us. So many platforms, including Zoom, Slack, and Microsoft Teams, allow you to stay in touch with your employees, so use them right. It’s all about keeping that human touch alive.
Not only can the risk of miscommunication estrange your employees, but it can also lead to bigger work problems. Anyone can find themselves misunderstanding a message, which is why you should encourage your employees to hop on a quick video call when something isn’t clear.
Ensure a strong internet connection.
I know what you think – who doesn’t have a strong internet connection in the 21st century? But let’s think of all the aspects before making assumptions. If an employee is on the go but you need them urgently, they might struggle to respond right away.
For example, they could be in an area with a poor cell signal or might not want to use public Wi-Fi due to security. This is why you must introduce them to eSIM technology, which will allow them to access the internet at all times without having to change SIM cards.
And if any students interested in working remotely for some extra cash are reading this, know that eSIM can also help you. If you’re at school but are asked to send your resume, you’ll be able to choose from different college student resume examples and create it on the spot. The eSIM will also allow you to stay connected and listen to classes remotely across the APAC.
This eSIM technology is extremely important in the APAC region, as more and more universities and businesses offer hybrid and fully remote learning and working options.
Understand cultural differences & legal obligations.
Being the huge region that it is, the APAC is home to many different cultures. So, when you’re looking to hire remotely, you might want to understand how these cultural differences can impact communication. An indirect approach might be favored in some cultures but come off as blunt in others. That said, it’s better to be familiar with these preferences to avoid miscommunication.
You must also be aware of each country’s legal obligations regarding remote work and whether these will apply to your employees when working remotely. For example:
- In Australia, employers must adhere to workplace health and safety laws, one being ensuring a safe working environment. The same goes for New Zealand.
- Almost all countries require employers to protect the privacy and personal data of their employees, including Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines, and New Zealand.
- Tax obligations are different for all countries. In Australia, employers have to pay income tax based on their residence. In Japan, they have to pay it based on their earnings.
Lucky for you, technology won’t leave you hanging. You don’t have to know all these laws by heart, as some of them might change. You could simply implement HR compliance software that will make sure you comply with local labor laws and manage your remote workers successfully.
Organize tasks with project management tools
Considering that your employees are spread across different countries, you’ll often have a hard time keeping everyone on track. But not if you use project management software.
This tool will help you assign tasks easier and always know what each of your employees is responsible for. It can also solve the issue of time zones by sending reminders to your employees about an upcoming event or a project deadline based on each of their time zones.
Time zones are something you must keep in mind. If you want your remote workspace to be successful and for your employees not to burn out, make sure you’re flexible with working hours
Since you’ll be working remotely, you won’t always know who’s busy or has the time to take on more tasks at a given time. Unless you use a project management tool. This tool will help you keep track of everyone’s workload and know who’s working on what so that you never overload or leave someone without anything to do. This is how you get work done smarter, not harder.
Organize occasional team building events
Many in the business world think that when working remotely, they’re not supposed to organize team-building activities. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Team building activities are just as important for remote workers as they are for in-office teams. If not anymore.
Just because someone works from home and relies on technology for communication more than others doesn’t mean they’re robots. They’re still humans in need of socializing. Statistics speak for themselves – 43% of remote workers in Asia have said that they’re missing social contact and interactions, meaning they wouldn’t mind meeting their colleagues sometimes.
Your employees are aware that you can’t organize such events and gather them all every week, but two times a year is more than enough for them to build stronger work relationships.
Bettering remote work in the APAC region
Even though it seems simpler, remote work isn’t something you should take lightly. It still has its own challenges you need to overcome if you wish for this work model to turn out successful.
This is especially true for big regions such as the APAC, where different cultures, legal obligations, and time zones can impact the way your employees communicate with each other and with their superiors and how well they perform their tasks. By keeping the human touch alive and using technology to your needs, you can make remote work WORK.
