You’ve made the decision to make aliyah. You know that your transition will be smoother if you maintain your current job and work remotely from Israel. Maybe you’ve already mentioned this idea to your current employer, but you’ve gotten a lukewarm reception.
Don’t give up yet!
Your employer’s concerns are likely valid ones, but they are not insurmountable. Come to your next meeting prepared with talking points which address their concerns and give them answers they can live with.
Concerns about productivity
It’s easier to keep track of what employees are doing when they’re in the office next door, but harder to gauge productivity from a distance. If your employer is concerned about productivity, you can start by pointing out that they have not had to doubt your work ethic before. If you previously worked remotely (during Covid, or on specific days), remind them how much you got done then and reiterate that you will work just as hard from your new home in Israel.
You can also suggest apps that help employers track the hours you have worked and the tasks you have accomplished. Suggest some specific apps, such as:
If they’re a low-tech kind of establishment, let them know you would be happy to track hours on a Google spreadsheet which you will share with them, so they have access to it at all times.
Make it clear that you will commit to a specific number of hours and, if they wish, particular work hours. If relevant, suggest that you can be available at times when the rest of the staff is off or asleep, which is extremely useful for routine customer service and for emergencies.
Communication and collaboration
Most jobs require a certain amount of collaboration with colleagues and your employer might be concerned that you will turn into the company’s lone wolf. Luckily, technology has made communication much easier, both for in-house and remote workers.
Task management software provides you with the ability to be in constant touch with bosses and colleagues. It streamlines processes and stores all communication in one place, so anyone with access can see everything that was said about a specific subject with the click of a button. Popular task management apps include:
Of course, not all communication can be carried out with the written word. Sometimes you need to get on the phone and talk things through. Let your employer know what hours you will be available for calls, including options for calling you outside your usual work hours if you are needed during standard American hours. You can make things easier for them by porting or obtaining an American phone number.
If your company culture includes lots of meetings, suggest conducting meetings on Zoom or via Google Meet. Virtual meetings are often more efficient than in-person meetings, with less small talk and time waste. These meetings can also be recorded and easily referred to later.
Tax liability
If your employer is knowledgeable or has consulted their lawyer, they might know that hiring an employee in Israel can lead them to being liable for taxes as if they have an office in the country. Understandably, they are likely to balk at taking that kind of risk.
Thankfully, this issue is easily solvable. Employer of Record services such as Route 38 will be your official employer in Israel, paying your salary and deducting all relevant payments, including Bituach Leumi (Israeli National Insurance/Social Security), income tax, health tax and mandatory pension deposits. Your current employer becomes a client of Route 38, sending your salary to their American bank account each month. The American company has no tax liability in Israel, you have a registered employer in the country and there’s no hassle on either side.
Once you have addressed your employer’s concerns about productivity and communication, if they’re stuck on the legal issues, send them this article: How Can a US Company Hire Israeli Employees?
Additionally, we are happy to speak to them to explain the process, what’s needed from them and related fees. It’s a straightforward system and we have a lot of experience explaining it clearly to companies in the United States. Reach out to us at info@route38.co.il to discuss your situation and see how we can help.