Gecko Towers
Turning the corner into 2021, various media, including Martin Lewis’ show, addressed the practical reality of Home Working. The Money Saving Guru dissected for the UK market, the opportunity for the self employed to be able to recover tax by heeding the UK Government’s advice to work from home.
We understand that not all work tasks can be completed from home but for many “Working from Home” by relying on a good WiFi connection to transact online meetings, is fast becoming the norm. Configuring our homes to accommodate a discret workspace – intended to be somewhat away from the distractions of family, kids or pets – seems increasingly essential.
For many freelancers “Working from Home” is not at all alien. Conversely, for others who saw “Going to the Office” as a clear division between work and home, where the dynamics of their working environment and the associated relationships tended to define their position, may find this particular element of the New Normal a little more challenging.
Aside from the potentially negative impact of the loss of immediate colleagues, by the very nature of working alone, it seems that the ability to continue to work for your current employer while not being limited to attending a particular office on a daily basis, may, for some, be completely liberating.
“The Boss” may need to approach distance working with some caution – including if you are actually the Boss! There has to be a deal of trust that the employee can be relied upon to perform even if they are out of sight. Management techniques including regular assessment and feed back sessions can be used to avoid the inevitable risk of some slacking. Spotting early that someone is failing to deliver in a timely fashion simply because of a perceived lack of “pressure” from an ever present superior officer of the company, is key.
Whether you are an entrepreneur with a flourishing business, a captain of industry with many years of successful trading under your belt, a creative designer or a member of a marketing team, there is one thing that the concept of “Working from Home” does deliver: the choice of where your home – and your Home Office – should be!
Many jobs have enabled the personnel behind them to choose where to live. Those who work on long term contracts in the Middle East or Aberdeen in the oils and gas business, those who work for an airline or shipping company whose hub is say Malaga or Gibraltar and those who have developed their business as a Consultant swooping in to deliver some troubleshooting wherever needed, have for many years had the chance to decide where they wish to be located.
Despite all the hardship of the last eighteen months, perhaps the one good thing to have emerged is that those who have an interest to explore a relocation, when regular travel properly resumes, can seek out a new home in another country. There is sense in a move to a country that is not too remote from where you were previously based and is well served by regular low-cost flights. Additionally, you may be interested to see whether a country, perhaps one with which you are familiar from holidays in previous years, might suit your needs.
Care should be taken to ensure that you are not at risk of breaching your employment agreement by moving more than an agreed number of miles away from your employers head quarters – a brief conversation with the Human Resources team might be prudent.
Many experienced in the Costa del Sol property market are actively talking of the prospects – post-Covid – or at least post the impact of the Covid vaccine, of Northern Europeans seeking a more satisfying lifestyle orientated work/life balance.
In June and August 2020 I posted Your Marbella Property and Lifestyle and Marbella Property which touched on a similar developing need and a necessity to really focus on what is important to you from your preferred lifestyle.
When I was a practicing Solicitor in London’s Mayfair great store was placed on where a meeting should be held, particularly if the reason for the meeting was fundamentally contentious. It was often the case that if you needed to put across your clients case with some force you would nominate a location – such as your own office – as that may be seen as potentially favouring your client’s position. The alternative, being the office of their opponent, where you and your client may be on the back foot by the unfamiliarity of the surroundings. The impact of such a meeting may be dramatically defused by a neutral location such as your “Home Office” and a Zoom connection.
In my many years of experience of working from a combination of Home Office and a formal office environment, I am sure I am not alone in sharing that the Home Office has a very important grounding effect on your work. I would argue that you can concentrate and communicate better because of a reduction in the frequent distractions of a regular office environment.
You may also need to consider whether your partner, who in many cases will opt to share your Home Office, is happy to take turns making the teas and coffees.
It would be remiss not to address the ability of, say a UK family, seeking to relocate. There will be residency issues that are reasonably straight forward and a limited number of days as a resident prior to tax residency. All that aside, the prize is usually well worth the administrative hassle.
Should you be interested in discussing the Legal process involved in buying a property in Marbella, we would be delighted to assist you. Our team of bi-lingual, highly experienced and wholly independent team of Abogados are ready to help you.
Please call me, Mark FR Wilkins, during usual business hours on +34 600 343 917.
Please note that our posts are for general interest. They are no substitute for proper legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances as provided by a qualified Abogado who is experienced in the application of the Spanish Law.
Nothing contained in this article should be seen or taken as the writer or the publisher providing legal or financial advice.
© Mark FR Wilkins 2021 All rights reserved.