Considering taking a trip and not using PTO, but working my normal hours from the hotel.
Anyone ever travel to Mexico/Europe/Asia and bring their work laptop?
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I did this twice for a month at a time in Asia. I asked my manager before and their answer was “I don’t see a problem with it”. Only thing I did was switch my pulsesecure to connect to a location closer.
Complete BS on tax implications.
I worked in Corporate Tax before and there isn't any basis to arrive at a tax charge when the person working there is doing it temporarily.
I worked for 3 weeks last month from singapore. I was able to login without VPN. You can try as well.
I have used my laptop and cell phone while on pto overseas. You need manager approval to upgrade your phone plan. Laptop works fine as long as you have a wifi connection.
So many team members have been working from other states over the last year during the pandemic. I dont see the problem so long as you work your normal hours, are acessible and people can find you if needed.
there's a policy on this- would recommend you read it.. short answer is no, you're not allowed to do this w/o manager approval in advance
I know three Mktg colleagues who've been doing this for 6 mos. now – no problem. Mexico, Fiji and Asia.
If you do it I hope you get caught.
They will only pretend they work so they don’t have to take PTO anyway. Just log on and goof off.
I know of people that thought they could go to India for a visit and login and work from there. Their managers were informed and they cut off access until that person returned to the states. You put the company in jeapardy logging in from another country, as it could trigger a tax liability, and re categorization of a job location if discovered. Could lead to being fired also, as the annual training (last year) touched on this exact scenario. Good luck though, let us know what happens!
Please don't do that. Please.
Get a VPN service (like NordVPN) that allows you to choose a country. While traveling abroad, connect and select a US server. The only issue would be if the hotel you are staying blocks VPN (had it a couple of times).
@OP. North Korea? Yes you should do it
Just ask your manager. I've had so many friends do this. London has been a favorite.
They even got one of them a little cubicle in our London trading office.
to @kmf+19UQPLnV and others asking why this is a problem vs remote work in general.
It's because there are different laws that apply to work done in a country outside the U.S. and it opens up both the company and the individual to potential liability. The policy says that it's not allowed unless it is for authorized business travel. So it is a violation of policy and can lead to any punitive measures up to and including termination. Not defending the policy, just stating that it is what it is and same as violation of any other policy can get you fired. You decide whether it's worth that risk or not.
You would need management approval, not sure how high up though.
most places have policy against this, taking company equipment out of the country. I would not suggest doing this. They may think you are stealing company property, data and information.
We have team US based team members who travel to India and China for long vacations and work remotely from those countries
This question will be moot very soon since they are moving to having us use our personal laptops/desktops to log in. We were told today that they will be sending out to like half the employees some device box thing that you can use to login from your personal computer. They said this will eliminate having over 270,000 laptops issued to employees. The email did not say if you can use a MacBook or what if you don’t have your laptop or desktop at home. I don’t know if a lot of employees will like this idea but I read that it’s coming real soon. I like the idea because when I travel in the U.S. I will not have to bring two laptops with me.
I know of plenty who have done this. Yes, they know you're doing it and if they choose to discipline you, they can. It's also potentially a violation of foreign laws.
Why would it be unethical to work remotely from a location other than your home? Is it unethical to haul your laptop down to the coffee shop when your WiFi goes down? If you’re putting in the hours and you’re available as usual why should anybody care?
I know several people - not WF employees - who left San Francisco for safer locations at the beginning of the pandemic. They are getting their work done as usual. Are they unethical?
That sort of flexibility is the upside to remote work. I fail to see the problem.
Unless employees have an international role or special dispensation to work outside of the US, using WF devices - laptops, phones, tablets - is simply forbidden. Like the other poster said, you’d be a fool to try this.
If you don’t have a VPN that hides your IP address and are not ready to lose your job, then keep the laptop home. Why must you try and cheat the company and be dishonest? This is not just Wells but any company.