U.S. Remote workers vs. Filipino remote workers - U.S. Staffing Issues

Hidden costs of staffing – Telecommuting: Hiring American remote workers vs. hiring Filipino remote workers

Did you know you need Workers Compensation for your remote staff working in the USA?   

By hiring off-shore remote workers from the Philippines you do not need to avail of Workers Compensation for your off-shore staff. Reduce the risk of frivolous lawsuits in your business.

Allowing employees to work from home has definite advantages for the employer.  One that stands out is cutting down on office space expenses.  However, there are liabilities to consider, like injuries on the job and damage to equipment.  In the US the business owner is responsible for providing a safe work environment and US law tends to see the home office no differently than the typical office building.   

Legal risk of hiring an American working remotely from their home in the US:

There was a case in 2011 where the court decided in favor of an American employee working remotely from her home who tripped on her dog, determining she was in the process of working for her employer at the time she sustained the injury (she had run to her car to retrieve fabric samples from her garage).   

Workers Compensation explained:

Workers have a designated “class code” that categorizes the work they do, and the risks associated with that type of work, and the injuries it exposes people to.  Currently, there are about 700 codes, and for the categories of Sales and Office work the cost is generally $.22 per hour worked or 0.9% of their total compensation.    

Would you like to remove that extra staffing cost completely?

If you are like most employers, the answer is a resounding YES!  Why would any company, anywhere, want to pay costs they don’t have to?   The remedy is to hire off-shore, and there is no better place to start than visiting Smart VA Staffing Agency.     

ZERO Staffing Costs, can you imagine that?

By hiring off-shore remote workers you will never need to avail of Workers Compensation for your off-shore staff, thus avoiding frivolous lawsuits and the high costs they incur.    

Why the Philippines?

The remedy is to hire off-shore. Filipinos are sought after employees due to their great work ethic, loyalty, and high level of education.

Filipinos are sought after employees due to their great work ethic, loyalty, and high level of education.  Funding for public education and higher-level college and university comes from the national government, which means Filipinos are very well educated and many have college or university degrees.   At Smart VA Staffing Agency, your Filipino staff member will come prepared with their own laptop ready for the job at hand.  

Sensible precautionary steps for Filipino employees working from home: 

  • Inspect your home and office to make sure it is safe – tidy away electrical wires and for smooth surface floors, remove rugs that don’t have rubber backing.
  • Ensure the desk, chair, and office is set up ergonomically.

Recommended steps for American employers with staff working from their home in the US: 

  • Physically inspect the employee’s home office to make sure it is safe.  If they are not local, have the employee video their office space and advise changes.
  • Establish boundaries – you are liable for an injury that happens anywhere on the employee’s property if the physical boundaries of the office space are not well-established.
  • Set specific work hours and set breaks so if a work-related injury occurs, it is within established work hours.
  • Ensure the desk, chair, and office is set up ergonomically.

Cut costs so your company can thrive! 

Contact Smart VA Staffing Agency now!  Call: (801) 349-8226 

References:

Liabilities Checklist – Letting U.S. Employees Work from Home

Do you need Workers’ Comp for telecommuting employees?

Related:

Employee Cost Calculator – QuickBooks

Fully Loaded Employee Cost Calculator

Calculate Your Employee Labor Burden Costs

The Economics of Hiring Remote Workers From The Philippines

Telecommuting Policies