According to Statista, over one-fourth of employees globally work remotely. Many professionals are interested in remote and hybrid work options, as they give them the flexibility to step outside of the office and avoid lengthy commutes.

While fully remote options may not be something that makes sense for your business, for some, work-from-anywhere (WFA) benefits might be on the table. The question is, should your company offer a WFA benefit? 

Two Approaches to WFA

There are two schools of thought when it comes to WFA. The more liberal approach takes remote work to the next level, literally allowing employees to work from any geographical location, provided they can fulfill their responsibilities, of course. 

The extreme version of WFA isn’t pragmatic for most businesses due to the compliance and tax challenges it creates.

The more widely used work-from-anywhere model is a limited WFA benefit that permits employees to perform their duties from any location. Typically, businesses will allow employees to work from anywhere for a set number of weeks annually. The benefit offers temporary flexibility without altering the fundamental structure of your workforce. 

For instance, you may offer four weeks of WFA benefits per year. Keep in mind that this benefit is separate from paid time off, during which employees don’t perform any work or face any geographical limitations. 

Advantages of Implementing a Limited Work-From-Anywhere Policy

A limited work-from-anywhere policy can provide several benefits. 

Improved Employee Satisfaction and Retention

Flexibility is a highly valued perk among employees. Giving your team members the freedom to work from a preferred location can lead to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover. Cutting down on turnover promotes workforce stability and long-term business growth. 

Your employees will appreciate the autonomy of WFA. Many will likely use this time to simply work from home. Others may venture out to destinations on their bucket list and use the WFA benefit to extend how long they get to stay and explore exotic destinations. 

Increased Productivity

Remote work can boost productivity. Offering a limited WFA benefit allows your business to unlock some of the productivity benefits of remote work without restructuring the entire business model. Think of it as a middle-ground approach to the remote work revolution. 

Talent Attraction

In a competitive job market, offering a work-from-anywhere benefit can differentiate your company from other businesses. Prospective employees may view this flexibility as a significant advantage, making your organization more attractive to top talent. 

Cost Savings

Limited work-from-anywhere policies can still result in cost savings related to reduced office resource consumption during the periods employees work remotely. Let’s say that 10–15% of your workforce is out of the office throughout the year. This could translate into a proportionate reduction in resource consumption. 

Considerations and Challenges

Implementing a limited work-from-anywhere benefit requires careful planning and consideration of several factors. 

Tax and Compliance Issues

Allowing employees to work from different states or countries can trigger complex tax obligations and compliance requirements. For instance, your business may have to register in another jurisdiction if employees regularly work in that state.

Data Security

Remote work can expose your organizational data to security threats. Make sure that your employees have secure access to systems and applications. They should also be trained on the latest cybersecurity best practices so they can safely work from anywhere. 

Performance Management

Monitoring productivity across your team can be tough when some of them are in and out of the office. Consider investing in performance management software that is built for remote and hybrid teams. 

Scheduling

Approving vacation requests can be tough enough on its own. When you add WFA requests to the mix, shift planning and scheduling can become a logistical nightmare. Consider how WFA might affect your management team and staffing levels to ensure it does not negatively impact business operations. 

Overcome the Challenges of WFA With AssetHR

Want to learn more about limited work-from-anywhere policies and whether WFA is a good fit for your business? AssetHR can help. We provide consulting services, human resources outsourcing solutions, and compliance services as part of our partnership. Explore our HR and legal compliance solutions today.