Here there and everywhere: working away from home
Hi there, I’m Gabriela, but you can call me Gabe. I work in the SEO Content team, writing on the other Wise blog and am based in the Budapest office.
I’m originally from Brazil, but am also an Italian citizen. Being this “international mutt” has driven me to look for opportunities that allow me to be here, there and everywhere. This is how I ended up on this blog, talking about my favorite Wise benefit: Mobile Wiser.
If you haven’t heard about it, prepare to be awed. Here at Wise we have 90 days a year in which we can to work remotely from other countries. Cool, huh?
For many, this means being able to go back home and not having to worry about taking holidays or having to leave after just a couple of days with friends and family.
But for others, like me, it also opens the possibility of exploring different places for a longer stretch of time. And on this guide I’m gonna tell you all about it. From how to get approval, to keeping in touch with the team and picking a place to work from.
So let’s go!
The fun part: deciding where to go
The world is your oyster – but it’s important to note that Wise, as a company, has some responsibilities for their employees. This means that there are a few restrictions of where you can work from – these are usually related to international tax agreements, which I won’t bore you with.
So be mindful that there are some places where you won’t be able to go based on where you’re based and local regulations. For example, Budapest employees cannot work from countries such as Canada, Argentina and the Philippines. But don’t worry – there’s still a lot of the world that we get to explore.
Personally, I tend to choose where to go based on affordability (you can’t always go somewhere that is super expensive to stay in, while still paying rent back home). Lately I’ve been visiting friends and family across the world, but sometimes I also spice it up with places I’ve always dreamed of seeing.
In the past 4 years, I hung out with friends in the Netherlands, UAE, Italy, Ireland, Azerbaijan, UK, Croatia and Spain, visited family in Portugal and Brazil and traveled just for fun to Belgium, Scotland, Georgia and the Maldives.
Next year? I’m visiting my brother in his new place in the Netherlands and celebrating my dad’s 60th by his side, wherever he decides to go. Everything else, I’ll figure out on the way.
But this isn’t only about me, you get to choose where to go and do what’s best for you, that’s the beauty of this benefit. 3 whole months that you can just “drop everything” in your personal life and head to new places. Time to start spinning that globe.
Becoming a Mobile Wiser: step by step
- You’ll need to talk to your lead in advance to check whether working away will be viable for your role and your team. Unfortunately, due to the requirements of some roles, it's not possible at all. You also need to be at Wise for 6+ months to be eligible for Mobile Wiser. You’ll need to speak to your lead about how your work schedule and expectations while you’re away. Some teams have more flexibility and you can work local hours, for others you might need to work shifts in your home based office’s time zone.
- Since regulations are shifting all the time, we also need to ask for approval from the People team before we get too carried away. Find the place you want to be and submit a request that will be checked by your lead and the People team to make sure that it is a viable option. If not, you may have to change your plans, so some flexibility is imperative.
- After getting the necessary confirmation, this may take a couple of weeks to be approved, you can get your ticket and get ready to work from a cool new place.
- Before you travel, make sure to have your laptop checked by IT – so you won’t have to worry about it not working when you’re away.
- Enjoy that work life balance!
Conquering the distance barrier
Tickets? Purchased. Accommodation? Booked. People team approval? Done. But now, how do you keep in touch with your team?
One of the biggest challenges in working remotely is feeling like you’re still part of the team.
Office life keeps happening. Team meetings, company events, and team buildings don’t stop just because you decided to go away (even if, like me, you’re usually the one planning this stuff).
So how to work around the workplace FOMO? Here are some tips:
Keep on top of your work. This is not a holiday (though you can take some time off here and there). You’re responsible for your workload, attending the relevant meetings and ensuring you’re present with your work even if you’re away.
Make sure to have some overlap time. Wherever you are in the world, make sure you spend time working during times that are the same as your team. This helps you and your team feel more connected.
Keep in touch. Whether through a quick Slack check in, or a Zoom catch up, make sure to talk to people.
Don't miss the big events, if you can. Twice a year we have the Wise Mission Days, which is a company-wide event where most employees are encouraged to join. If you can work around these dates, you won’t miss the major cross team bonding opportunities.
What I’ve learned along the way
I was going to write a paragraph about overcoming obstacles when they happen, but I think we’re all better off if I share some things I’ve learned and that are good if you’re dipping your toes in remote work. So here we go:
This is not an unplugged holiday. Sorry to break it to you but you do have to work. So, make sure you have a safe and reliable internet connection. If you’re not sure, lately I’ve become very biased on eSIMs, you can buy data in advance and install as soon as you land. It also makes up for spotty wifi depending on where you are.
Security matters. Besides the internet, you’ll want to make sure you have privacy for calls or from screen peepers. Hotel rooms and co-working spaces are good solutions for that.
Unforeseen events happen, and it’s ok. But make sure you have a way to contact your lead/team when you’re away. Be it by having Slack on your phone or your lead’s contact, it’s important to be able to let them know if there are any emergencies.
Check visa requirements and travel plugs. To some of you this comes as a natural step, but let me tell you that living in the Schengen area has made me forget about borders. So make sure you have the necessary visas, vaccines and travel plugs so you can charge that phone for all the photos you’re gonna take.
Get travel insurance. You’ll need it. It’s that thing that you only regret not having the minute you need it (and believe me, when this happens all you ever think about is your past self wanting to save a few bucks and now having to pay for a private doctor).
Update your calendar time zone. Not sure about you, but I suck at time zones. So whenever I get that calendar notification I make sure to accept, otherwise I might miss some meetings.
Get a Wise account! So you can pay for all your adventures in the local currency, without getting stung by hidden fees.
Have fun! Grab that coffee, visit that museum, climb that hill, dive on that reef. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up on the work aspect of this. But your day has 24 hours – and you only work 8 of those. So go enjoy the place you chose and don’t feel guilty about it. You’ll come back with lots of stories to tell.
I always joke that traveling should be a part of the job. Wise offers a very international product, which caters to remote workers, freelancers, expats and travellers alike.
Besides getting to explore all these amazing places, being in another country allows me to do something that doesn’t happen so often: meeting customers in the wild.
The amount of people I met on the way that are excited about being Wise users, or have constructive feedback really help grasping the impact that we have as a company.
Honestly, there’s nothing to lose from taking a break from your daily life while still getting your work done. Hope this guide made you excited to join us, and don’t worry, we’re hiring!
Tags
Roles you might be interested in
Salary
-
Location
London
Team
Product
Locations
London
Description
About the role Our Platform Tribe is building the foundations for Wise’s rapid innovation and customer trust. By providing an internal platform as a product, we create a best-in-class developer experi
Reference
ce0c2e41-65e2-4ce8-9028-c1b7af24ed85
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
SGD 170k - 360k per annum depending on interview performance + RSUs
Location
Singapore
Team
Product
Locations
Singapore
Description
We’re looking for an experienced Treasury Manager to join our Treasury team in Singapore. This role is a unique growth opportunity in our Treasury within our newly created Markets team, with the abili
Reference
a6398807-b795-46a0-900b-9f5ea87a80ca
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£58,000-£65,000
Location
London
Team
Finance
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for an Internal Audit Senior Specialist to join our new and growing IA team. Your main task will be to plan and execute the internal audits at Wise, collaborating internally and externa
Reference
b6b82214-7529-43c0-9aae-fb959f908919
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
730000 - 730000 HUF Monthly Gross
Location
Budapest
Team
Operations
Locations
Budapest
Description
We’re looking for AML Investigators to join our growing AML Investigation team in Budapest. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s mission, grow as a specialist in anti-money la
Reference
8a63f528-d722-463d-beca-30aa7977726f
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
£60,000 - £80,000 + RSUs
Location
London
Team
Technology
Locations
London
Description
We are looking for a Platform Engineer with passion and experience in cloud infrastructure.Our team is responsible for building and maintaining the services that help ensure Wise’s cloud infrastructur
Reference
a3c3b81a-94c3-417b-aa0d-be4d78096b7d
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
-
Location
DKI Jakarta
Team
Product
Locations
Jakarta
Description
We’re looking for an energetic, entrepreneurial Senior Business Development Manager, who is passionate about the Wise mission – money without borders. You’ll be a part of the Wise Platform team, helpi
Reference
6961b905-fac3-45fc-9898-d50dbc891994
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
7500 - 10850 SGD Monthly
Location
Singapore
Team
Finance
Locations
Singapore
Description
A Bit About The Role We are looking to hire an Associate Controller to join our Regional Finance team in Singapore! You will assist in growing our finance capabilities to steer the organisation in th
Reference
f773c652-5f26-484b-94e1-bb5453b35f51
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
2175 - 2175 EUR monthly gross
Location
Tallinn
Team
Operations
Locations
Tallinn
Description
We’re looking for AML Investigators to join our growing AML Investigation team in Tallinn. This role is a unique opportunity to have an impact on Wise’s mission, grow as a specialist in anti-money lau
Reference
3377168e-1746-4ea6-a494-fd695344aa21
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
6300 - 8500 SGD Monthly
Location
Singapore
Team
Customer Support
Locations
Singapore
Description
Short introductionWe’re looking for a Workforce Management Specialist to join our team in the Singapore office!As a member of the WFM team you will be vital in ensuring agents are scheduled to be work
Reference
5cb76378-3e2d-4b40-80a7-c6cc2c2b4e0d
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Salary
$70,720 USD Annual
Location
Austin
Team
Operations
Locations
Austin
Description
We’re looking for a Wise Platform Operations Senior Specialist to join the Global Products Operations area.A Wise Platform Operations Senior Specialist's role is to support Product Teams as a represen
Reference
3ef847e5-bad8-4ee8-a67e-e589f4331fb5
Expiry Date
01/01/0001
Articles you might like
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/28/2024
Summary
Wise Brussels has a very special and unique positioning in the heart of EU institutions. We caught up with three of our Brussels Wisers to find out a bit more about their roles and wha
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
02/26/2024
Summary
Wise is committed to fair and ethical employment practices and dedicated to providing our employees with a fair wage that meets the basic cost of living.That’s why we’ve officially become accr
Content Type
BlogPublish date
01/24/2024
Summary
Wise’s volunteer day is not just a perk; it’s a celebration of community, camaraderie, and making a difference.Meet Claire Adelman, Customer Support Training Specialist, and Javier Perdo
Content Type
BlogPublish date
01/08/2024
Summary
How many people can say they’re lucky enough to work at a company that supports their ideas, values and passions – even if these are not directly related to the company’s mission? Well
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/20/2023
Summary
At Wise, our vision is money without borders. In order to build the future of global money, we need a team that’s as diverse as the customers we serve.In September 2020 we signed the HM Treasu
Content Type
BlogPublish date
12/19/2023
Summary
Following the successful launch of our Global Wisers Giving Back program in Singapore, we’re now extending its reach to Budapest in collaboration with the Artemisszió Foundation and th
Content Type
BlogPublish date
12/19/2023
Summary
At Wise, all employees across the world have an annual paid volunteer day to contribute to a cause close to their heart. Helo Tamme, People Partner at Wise, used hers this year to help
Teaser
People profileContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/15/2023
Summary
I joined Wise as a Graduate Data Scientist in September 2022 – what a ride it has been since then! I relocated from the Tallinn office to London, we rebranded from blue to green, I’m n
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
12/01/2023
Summary
A bit about me Hey, I’m Sally! I am disabled. It took me a long time to come to terms with this label, because I used to think that to have the ability to work, drive, party, so
Teaser
Diversity Equity & InclusionContent Type
BlogPublish date
11/19/2023
Summary
In October, Wise was honoured to sponsor and be a part of Black Tech Fest 2023 🚀. Black Tech Fest (BTF) is one of the largest not-for-profit gatherings of it