When you hear the words “remote work,” you probably picture a lazy employee “working” from their couch, watching Netflix in pajama pants and sending one carefully timed Slack message to look alive.
And if you’re running a business in the US, the idea of hiring someone halfway across the world might sound like the biggest scam of all.
But done right, hiring remote workers – especially in Israel – can actually be one of the smartest moves you make.
Remote doesn’t mean out of touch
In fact, the opposite is true. Remote workers are much more meticulous about documenting what they do, clarifying tasks and communicating regularly. They don’t make important decisions over coffee in the breakroom or in impromptu meetings, so there’s a paper trail or a recording of every discussion. That makes it easier to stay updated and hold everyone accountable. No more relying on people’s faulty memories.
The time zone difference can work in your favor
It can be daunting to picture a working relationship with someone who is in a different timezone, but the time difference between NY and Israel is generally 7 hours, and the difference between LA and Israel is 10 hours. This means that there is some overlap in working hours, especially if your Israeli worker is flexible about when they work. What’s really efficient is that all kinds of things get done while you’re still asleep, and you arrive in the office to find they have already been taken care of. And if your customers or clients are reaching out during your nighttime hours, it can be a godsend to have someone responding to them in a timely manner.
Communication is easy with today’s technologies
Remote work used to be science fiction, but today’s technologies make communication and working efficiently much simpler, so that it’s sometimes hard to remember why we have offices at all! Use Google Docs for collaboration, Zoom or Google Meet for virtual meetings and WhatsApp for getting quick answers. Task management software like Monday or Slack keep everyone on track and cut down on endless emails. With the right tools, your team can brainstorm, troubleshoot and hit deadlines just as smoothly as if they were sitting three desks away from each other.
Greater productivity
This may seem counterintuitive, but remote workers are often more productive than in-house workers. The office environment is by its definition distracting – personal conversations, multiple coffee breaks and the constant hum of noise can easily take people away from what they’re supposed to do. Add to that the multiple “meetings that should have been an email” and commuting fatigue, and you’ve got employees who can’t possibly reach their full potential. Your remote worker in Israel is probably doing more uninterrupted work, meeting goals and showing up reliably, while staying out of workplace drama and avoiding the usual office interruptions.
Legalities are easily taken care of
While it’s true that you can’t just hire an Israeli resident as a W-2, you don’t have to open a legal entity in the country in order to maintain business relationships in Israel. Employer of Record services handle payroll, taxes, benefits and compliance, and keep you from accidentally breaking international labor law.
Hiring in Israel gives you access to educated, English-fluent professionals who understand American work culture. Add in the time zone advantage, and you’ve basically got a 24-hour business without paying for night shifts. So no – remote work isn’t a scam. And when you find the right people to work for you, wherever they are, it can be one of the best investments your company ever makes.
