Remote work

Remote work is a working model in which a person performs their role from any connected location, without attending a company office. It defines neither the schedule nor the type of contract: it defines only where the work happens, which is why it coexists with both employment and contractor arrangements.

Three things are worth separating, because they are routinely conflated: location (remote or on-site), coordination (synchronous or asynchronous) and contractual relationship (employment or services). A company can be remote and still require fixed hours. International remote work adds a fourth layer, jurisdiction: where the person lives, where the company sits and which rules bind each.

Also called: telework, working from anywhere, distributed work

Related terms

Asynchronous workAsynchronous work is a way of coordinating teams in which replies are not expected in real time. Each person advances within their own hours using written documentation, recorded decisions and clear deadlines instead of simultaneous meetings. It is what lets a team operate across incompatible time zones.
Time zone overlapTime zone overlap is the number of hours during which two people in different zones share working time. International remote job posts usually require a minimum, typically two to four hours, and that requirement effectively decides which countries can apply for a given role.
Digital nomadA digital nomad is someone who works remotely while changing country of residence fairly often. The label describes a lifestyle, not a legal status: what counts legally and fiscally is where their tax residence sits and under which permit they are staying in each country.