A remote-first company is when an organization prioritizes remote work. In a remote-first company, very few employees — if any — work a centralized office space. 

When a company emphasizes a remote work policy, it’s considered to be remote-first. In a remote-first company, all employees are treated the same. 

Remote-first and remote-friendly, while they sound similar, are different. Remote-first prioritizes remote work, whereas remote-friendly allows remote work. 

Remote-friendly companies give employees the option to work remotely; it’s seen as a privilege. Remote-first companies see remote working as the default.

Many types of companies have adopted a remote-first work approach, such as Zapier, Gitlab, and Shopify. 

Since remote employees can be located anywhere in the world, remote-first companies do need to implement different processes and a different approach to work. This includes:

• Emphasizing asynchronous communication instead of synchronous communication. This is to accommodate employees in different time zones.
• Having detailed records of briefs, meetings, questions and concerns. This is to guarantee accountability and transparency.
• Investing and guaranteeing employee access to video conferencing software and  project management tools, like Slack, Notion, Trello, or Zoom.
• Focusing on virtual team building to create a work environment that’s inclusive, positive, and collaborative.
  ‍

There are many benefits to adopting a remote-first work approach, such as:

• Employees no longer need to commute, saving them time and money.
• Employees are more productive when they work in an environment of their choice.
• Remote work allows companies to save money on office space rental and utilities.
• Employees experience higher morale, boosting retention rates.
• Employers have access to a global talent pool.
  ‍

Making remote work easy and seamless requires extra thought and care — especially with a distributed team. Guarantee compliance and positive experiences by working with an Employer of Record (EOR) like Borderless. Book a demo today.