Does ‘remote-first’ truly mean work from anywhere?

Question

Description:

I see many companies advertising as ‘remote-first’. Does this policy always mean you can *actually* work from anywhere in the world, or are there often hidden restrictions like needing to be in a specific country or time zone for tax or legal reasons?

7 Answers

Sort by:

A.L. 16 May 2025
You absolutely need to ask for specifics. Some 'remote-first' companies require you to be a resident in a country where they have a legal entity to employ you. Others might allow work from anywhere for short periods but require a permanent base in a specific region.
65 Login to like
Taylor Smith 18 May 2025
Time zone requirements can also be a factor, even if they don't restrict country. They might need you to have significant overlap with a core team in a specific time zone for collaboration. 'Remote-first' is more about culture and operations than pure geographic freedom.
58 Login to like
Cameron Clark 19 May 2025
Look for companies that are transparent about this. Some will state 'Work from anywhere' or 'Global remote', while others will specify 'Remote in North America' or 'Remote in GMT +/- X hours'. If it's vague, that's a red flag to ask more questions.
50 Login to like
Avery Brown 21 May 2025
Sometimes 'remote-first' just means they don't have a physical HQ or that most employees are remote, but they still might only hire within certain US states, for example, because of tax nexus or workers' comp insurance.
43 Login to like
A.Y. 21 May 2025
The legal and tax implications for a company to employ someone in a different country are complex and expensive. So, unless they are a large multinational or specifically set up for global employment (using an Employer of Record, for instance), 'anywhere' is unlikely.
37 Login to like
M.J. 23 May 2025
My company is 'remote-first' but we have to be in one of the 15 countries where we have a legal entity. So not quite 'anywhere' but still a lot of flexibility compared to an office job!
30 Login to like

Want to answer?

Join the conversation and help others by sharing your insights.

Log in to your account or create a new one — it only takes a minute and gives you the ability to post answers, vote, and build your expert profile.

Log in or Register ›

Accepted Answer · 2025-05-16T10:00:00+00:00

'Remote-first' often means the company operates with processes designed for remote work as the primary mode, but it DOES NOT always mean 'work from anywhere'. Many have geographic restrictions due to tax laws, employment regulations, data security, or payroll complexities. ALWAYS clarify this.

Description:

7 Answers

Share this question

Jobicy+ Subscription