Houston, We Have a Problem!
And, we can’t just sweep it under the rug. And, it’s more than just a bug - in the remote work industry, which is arguably (undeniably) the future of work.
So, somebody is messing up with the future.
Remote workers and digital nomads aren’t only aware of this problem, but they’re pissed off.
So, what seems to be the problem, and who’s to be blamed for it?
Why Do You Say Remote, But You Mean US-Only?!
You’ve stumbled upon a great job opportunity that happens to be REMOTE. You feel so good about it. You’re going through the job description and you’re hitting the wall because it’s US-ONLY. What do you do next? Well, you take it out on Twitter.
This remote worker is spot on because he was very SPECIFIC. Look, here’s the thing.
As a freelance writer, I can cry a river, but if a client wants a native speaker then there’s no room for discussion. I don’t take it personally. You want it. You’re going to get it. You’re going to pay for it.
But a programming language is a universal language. The same can be said for and applied to designers’ works. Right?
That’s why this tweet hit hard. And, it’s not an exaggeration to qualify “remote US only” jobs as “the worst type of inequality.”
Here’s what I found on Nomad List:
This post/thread or whatever is GOOD because it covers all the problem’s angles. I didn’t know that “remote US only” affects the US remote workers as well.
This post is BAD because it’s 8-year-old, if I’m not mistaken, which confirms my concerns that this isn’t a new problem.
This post is UGLY because of the last line I decided not to include. There’s no excuse to talk like that about your fellow remote workers. Trust me, you don’t want to go down that rabbit hole of prejudice.
So, let’s get back to that tweet because there are some interesting comments/replies worth seeing and discussing.
“Remote US Only,” It’s An Oxymoron, Isn’t it?
So, how do you justify “remote US only?”
Well said, Ankur. Nothing to add. Let’s check out a few more interesting replies.
I’m not a tax expert, so I’m just going to leave this one here and move on.
I just don’t buy this one, but let’s see if we can come up with a solution.
Don’t Advertise Globally When Hiring “Locally!”
This sounds reasonable:
I think we have a winner with this simple solution for what became a big deal for remote work seekers all over the world, myself included:
Hey, let’s wrap it up. I’m afraid this is one of those neverending stories. But, I can’t just leave like this without some light at the end of our remote tunnel:
Yup, remote work is global or it’s not remote work at all. Agree?