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So my company has been bought by another company, and as part of the takeover, the new employer has sent around a description of the new benefits package. Part of it is named "Alternative Work Arrangements". One of the possible arrangements is to work remotely. For some jobs, they issue you computer equipment, and you never have to come on site.
So if I were to abuse this setup--because what fun would it be if I didn't?--what if I were to take off for another country, say, Spain, for example. I rent a long-term vacation flat in Madrid with a good internet connection for two months. I work out of the flat during the work week, and poke around Madrid and other places nights and weekends.
Could Spanish immigration bust me for violating rules about work visas? I'm American, so I don't need a visa to enter and stay up to 90 days as a tourist. But I'm not employed by a Spanish company, nor taking a job away from a Spaniard.
What about income tax in Spain--would that apply? Would I get taxed differently by the IRS in America?
What about my bank? Can I arrange to have part of my paycheck automatically converted to Euros and held on deposit?
Come on, C-D! Help me abuse my employer's flexibility! What other wrinkles and problems haven't I thought of?
Damned interesting notion, something I've pondered a lot too except relating to Panama. I work over 1000 miles away from my company right now, what's the difference right?
It would be weird setup because so much of your HR paperwork in America is related to your state of residence.
As long as you have an ATM card, and direct deposit, the money wouldn't be a problem. Give your employer a generic email address that doesn't indicate your location.
I did some work from Spain a few years ago. I was in Santa Pola on the Costa Blanco and it was great fun. Close to Alicante. But my employer knew where I was and when I was returning.
Don't know much about Spain and work issues but I imagine most countries wouldn't care because you are not taking a job away from a local person. I would just do it and not worry about it. As far as taxes go it's interesting. Lots of Americans have made big bucks working in foreign countries for about 18 months at a time. There's a window where you don't pay US taxes or taxes to your host country. But you aren't being required to work in Spain so I'm not sure this would apply to you at all. I did some research on doing web work from Central America and it was no problem. As long as you weren't taking a job and you were contributing to the local economy, it was all good.
All of this stuff has it's own host of paperwork that I'm betting your company doesn't want to do. Or be involved in. You'll probably find out down the road these 'work from home' opportunities are allowed on an individual case basis and won't be an option for you anyway. Hope I'm wrong but lots of companies want to look accommodating and forward thinking on paper and the reality is quite different. Managers go crazy when they are responsible for employees they can't physically watch!
As long as you have an ATM card, and direct deposit, the money wouldn't be a problem. Give your employer a generic email address that doesn't indicate your location.
I did some work from Spain a few years ago. I was in Santa Pola on the Costa Blanco and it was great fun. Close to Alicante. But my employer knew where I was and when I was returning.
Don't know much about Spain and work issues but I imagine most countries wouldn't care because you are not taking a job away from a local person. I would just do it and not worry about it. As far as taxes go it's interesting. Lots of Americans have made big bucks working in foreign countries for about 18 months at a time. There's a window where you don't pay US taxes or taxes to your host country. But you aren't being required to work in Spain so I'm not sure this would apply to you at all. I did some research on doing web work from Central America and it was no problem. As long as you weren't taking a job and you were contributing to the local economy, it was all good.
All of this stuff has it's own host of paperwork that I'm betting your company doesn't want to do. Or be involved in. You'll probably find out down the road these 'work from home' opportunities are allowed on an individual case basis and won't be an option for you anyway. Hope I'm wrong but lots of companies want to look accommodating and forward thinking on paper and the reality is quite different. Managers go crazy when they are responsible for employees they can't physically watch!
Not only is my manager cool with it, she's hoping to abuse the system by working from a beach house in Maui. And her boss wants to work from St. John. They're both of the school that believes in "so long as the work's getting done, it's all all right."
Spain was just an example. You could use any other developed country with the internet as an example. Actually, if I could pull it off in one country, switching countries every so often could be a possibility.
Health benefits might be a problem. I hadn't thought of that. Is there long-term foreign health insurance available? I would think there must be.
Not only is my manager cool with it, she's hoping to abuse the system by working from a beach house in Maui. And her boss wants to work from St. John. They're both of the school that believes in "so long as the work's getting done, it's all all right."
Spain was just an example. You could use any other developed country with the internet as an example. Actually, if I could pull it off in one country, switching countries every so often could be a possibility.
Health benefits might be a problem. I hadn't thought of that. Is there long-term foreign health insurance available? I would think there must be.
Health insurance is quite available and reasonable compared to what we pay here. Most of us do without because of the expense, it can actually be much better in other countries. You will be surprised. Costa Rica, just for example has great health care. So does Panama.
So my company has been bought by another company, and as part of the takeover, the new employer has sent around a description of the new benefits package. Part of it is named "Alternative Work Arrangements". One of the possible arrangements is to work remotely. For some jobs, they issue you computer equipment, and you never have to come on site.
So if I were to abuse this setup--because what fun would it be if I didn't?--what if I were to take off for another country, say, Spain, for example. I rent a long-term vacation flat in Madrid with a good internet connection for two months. I work out of the flat during the work week, and poke around Madrid and other places nights and weekends.
Could Spanish immigration bust me for violating rules about work visas? I'm American, so I don't need a visa to enter and stay up to 90 days as a tourist. But I'm not employed by a Spanish company, nor taking a job away from a Spaniard.
What about income tax in Spain--would that apply? Would I get taxed differently by the IRS in America?
What about my bank? Can I arrange to have part of my paycheck automatically converted to Euros and held on deposit?
Come on, C-D! Help me abuse my employer's flexibility! What other wrinkles and problems haven't I thought of?
I wouldn't leave the country yet. You many find yourself out of job. Sorry to throw a wrench in your plans but they may be getting rid of people, and the ones who are taken over always end up on the losing end.
I wouldn't leave the country yet. You many find yourself out of job. Sorry to throw a wrench in your plans but they may be getting rid of people, and the ones who are taken over always end up on the losing end.
Don't worry--I'm not planning on doing this unless my job and my boss's job are both secure in the New Regime. But I can still shake out the bugs beforehand, and leave it as a contingency plan.
Since I currently work in a high COL area, a more realistic scenario would be to live in a low COL area, keep the same salary, and bank the gain (in real terms). But if I can make the dream work....
Health insurance is quite available and reasonable compared to what we pay here. Most of us do without because of the expense, it can actually be much better in other countries. You will be surprised. Costa Rica, just for example has great health care. So does Panama.
I want to work where you work. Any openings?
Depends on what you do. Scrimshanders, barbers and royal tasters need not apply.
I wouldn't leave the country yet. You many find yourself out of job. Sorry to throw a wrench in your plans but they may be getting rid of people, and the ones who are taken over always end up on the losing end.
This is true, If I were you I would be fearing for my job in the next couple of months. Same thing happened to my long time company. There are very few left from my old company now. Probably out of 150, 15 remain at the new company. One by one people got laid off or left because of it.
This is true, If I were you I would be fearing for my job in the next couple of months. Same thing happened to my long time company. There are very few left from my old company now. Probably out of 150, 15 remain at the new company. One by one people got laid off or left because of it.
Exactly. I was with a company that was taken over by Northrup Grumman, they kept people on just long enough to pick their brain and then let them go.
Out of 250 people I think 10 people ended up staying on.
Nobody on the takeover side of a merger comes out ahead.
Just the fact that they are talking about moving you out of your office so you can telecommute is a RED FLAG.
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They're both of the school that believes in "so long as the work's getting done, it's all all right." 
