Challenges of Working Remotely in Different Time Zones: 6 Strategies that Work

Despite the benefits of building a great remote global team, you will still need to figure out exactly how to manage employees working in different time zones. When you manage your team’s time zones correctly, you are able to regularly communicate and respect boundaries, as well as ensure that projects are being completed properly.

Tips for managing teams in different time zones 

1. Communicate boundaries  

When you’re first hiring remote global employees, you should specifically ask what time zone your new employee plans to work in and what their hours of work are going to look like. 

Employees may feel pressure to always say yes to a meeting or extra work, even if it falls out of your regular working hours. This can create a culture of overwork and burnout. That’s why it’s important to set expectations early on. 

2. Be specific 

Set meetings and deadlines in multiple time zones, when necessary, especially when setting up calls with colleagues, vendors, and prospective employees. You wouldn’t want a talented employee to miss out on a job opportunity because of a time-zone mix up.

Even if you’re working with someone in the same country, you need to make sure that the deadline for an assignment is clear. Someone working in New York may finish a project during their regular business hours but another employee in Colorado may assume the deadline was EOD in their time zone.

3. Use project management tools

To help keep track of your employees progress and to keep teams connected, making use of virtual tools like instant messaging, task management, and other progress trackers is a great way for employees to stay up-to-date with projects, deadlines, and meetings. 

Project management tools also make it simple for employees in different time zones to see their counterpart’s progress

4. Communicate strategically 

Respecting your employees’ boundaries is key. This means not sending an important email after they’ve logged off for the day or calling an urgent meeting after hours. 

Try to send important emails early on in your work day, especially if you’re based in the United States or Latin America and are working with people based in Europe.

If you need to send an email outside of an employee's normal working hours, some platforms like Gmail and Slack give you the option to schedule an email or direct message to send at a specific day or time. If you’re sending a Slack message to someone outside of their working hours, for example, the platform will let you know their working hours. 

5. Be mindful of scheduling meetings

If you plan to schedule team-wide meetings, be mindful of everyone's schedule. This may pose a difficult task if your company stretches from Singapore to San Francisco. However, it’s important for company culture and for everyone to not miss out on important information from the executive team.

6. Be flexible

Working remotely can already be taxing on maintaining communication and building relationships between coworkers, but adding differences in time zones can add further strain. Employers should set aside time in their schedules to jump on last minute calls in case any confusion arises for their overseas team members. 

How Justworks Can Help 

Justworks’ global EOR is the solution for small businesses looking to easily hire talent in countries where they don’t already have a legal presence. 

Justworks has direct entities in 11 countries, with the ability to hire in 100+ additional countries upon request through our trusted local partners. You can fearlessly handle HR essentials like payroll, benefits, local compliance, and more. 

Learn more about our EOR services, and get started today!

FAQ

How do you manage teams across time zones? 

Managing teams in different time zones can prove to be difficult. You will need to remember to always be flexible, respect boundaries, be available, and use virtual tools to assist in communication. 

How do you communicate across different time zones? 

One of the best ways to communicate across different time zones is to be aware of the time zones and try to be available when your time zones match up. You should also utilize different virtual tools and be clear about what time zone you’re completing projects in. 

How do you deal with time zone differences in the workplace? 

The easiest way to deal with time zone differences in the workplace is to make sure that you communicate your boundaries and when you’re available to work. You should also be respectful and use virtual tools to keep your teams on track. 

How do you manage international meetings? 

To manage international meetings, you should first consider all of your team members' time zones and try to find a time that fits best into everyone's schedule. You should also use video chat and other virtual tools to help run the meeting. If you have to schedule a meeting outside of the employee’s regular workday, try to make up for the inconvenience by offering incentives for them having to stay late or work earlier.