Working Across Timezones

Details.md

The Thing Is...

People want to work from different locations. They like the climate, their partners need to study, they have a long distance relationship that they'd like to make short distance, or they just want to try living abroad.

In my case it's a bit of a few things:

• Winters suck.
• We've always said we should try living in a 3rd country for a bit - one that is neither Iceland not UK.
• I'd love to have more daytime hours available with my kid, and either work early or late, whilst still getting the benefits of working alongside others.

I don't see it as a "forever" thing, more a "let's try this for 6 months" thing.

Overlap

We currently have an office policy of overlapping hours being 10-4. This means that the majority of the working day is with everyone, which is great for Getting Things Done.

The overlap is especially important for remote workers because it means if 2 people move east and west they know what that means for their work hours - i.e. west will have to start early and east will have to start late, but they will still end up with the same working experience as those in Iceland.

Boundaries

So, what timezones am I willing to move to?

Given that:

• I want to continue having the same working experience in terms of overlap with colleagues as I get now.
• I am willing to finish work at 00:00
• I am willing to start work at 06:00

Let's define two overlapping groups, the current 10-16 and a new, smaller one of 11-15.

| Overlap Start      | 10:00 |  11:00 |
| Overlap End        | 16:00 |  15:00 |
| Overlap Hours      |  6:00 |   4:00 |
| 06:00 start west:  | UTC-4 |  UTC-5 |
| 00:00 end east:    | UTC+8 |  UTC+9 |

Map

• Green places fall into current 10-16 window, either starting early or finishing late.
• Orange places fall into a smaller 11-15 window.
• Grey places would mean a large compromise in communication level with the team.

Summary

South America, Caribbean or West Coast of Australia all seem doable.

Obviously Southern Europe would work too

Unfortunately, Northern California and New Zealand seem out of reach.

It should be noted, that once someone does move towards the outer regions of the green zone, moving into a neighbouring grey zone would become easier as there would be overlap with this colleague.

Love that map!

It should be noted, that once someone does move towards the outer regions of the green zone, moving into a neighbouring grey zone would become easier as there would be overlap with this colleague.

We should spread out from GMT and it becomes easier to achieve this :)

Also California/New Zealand is possible if work becomes more asynchronous and your willing to work without people.

I completely agree with more than 8 hour difference being kinda much.

But to be completely honest, the main reason I'd want to go to New Zealand wouldn't be to work full time at Azazo, maybe not even at all. That is, I'd want to go there for a longer period of time and attend a Uni and/or work there locally.

But doing a 6 month "work remotely" anywhere within that green zone actually sounds really interesting. I would seriously be interested in going 3-6 months to Perth for example to work from there!