13 Challenges Faced with Hiring Remote Filipino Talent

The Philippines has solidified its place as a top global hub for remote work, experiencing rapid growth even before the pandemic hit. Upwork, for instance, features approximately eight million virtual assistants. And guess what? One million of these virtual assistants hail from the Philippines.
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However, along with this growth come challenges that might give you pause when considering Filipino talent. But fear not—it’s not as daunting as it seems, and certainly not unsolvable.
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In this blog, we’ll discuss these challenges and offer you helpful insights and solutions, as well as compelling reasons for hiring valuable Filipino remote talent.

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Finding Trustworthy Employees

Finding reliable and trustworthy employees can be tough, especially when you're handling it on your own. According to a report by GCash and Payoneer, 1.5 million Filipinos are seeking online work. With these numbers, you’d think it’d be easy to find the right candidate, but it’s more complicated than that.

When looking for remote workers, there’s a risk that you encounter scams, fraudulent profiles, and so on. Without face-to-face interaction, gauging a candidate's character and authenticity is hard. Plus, verifying their qualifications can take up a lot of your time.
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How to solve it?

Using reputable hiring platforms is a good starting point, but you have to consider that the competition is fierce even there! The hiring process comes with its own set of challenges, and that's where an expert can really help you identify the perfect fit for your role.

Consider partnering with a remote staffing firm like MultiplyMii. Working with a company with years of experience in remote work can make a big difference. You also gain access to our pool of pre-vetted Filipino remote workers. 

From accountants to virtual assistants in the Philippines, we'll help you find the right people for your company quickly and efficiently.
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Ensuring Effective Communication

Communicating with your remote team can prove to be challenging. Because of the lack of in-person meetings and interactions, being clear and concise is a must, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Did you know that email has the highest rate of causing fractured communication and workplace anxiety? 90% of employees believe so!
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What can you do?

There are several ways to ensure your message gets across to your team. Aside from using remote management tools, such as Click Up, Slack, etc, you can:

• Schedule regular check-ins
• Set clear expectation
• Encourage an open culture
• Provide training and support
• Create opportunities for informal interactions
• Be mindful of timezones

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Time Zone Differences

Let’s be honest. Time zone differences may have perks, but they also have challenges: they can disrupt real-time collaboration for your team members. This means scheduling meetings can be more complicated, slowing the decision-making process.
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Here are your workarounds

Your remote management tools are key players here. Using task management tools like Asana can really streamline your workflow.

Finding core hours where everyone can overlap for work sessions is crucial. It might take some flexibility, but the results are totally worth it.

If someone misses a meeting, recording it keeps them in the loop without having to recap everything. Keeping meeting minutes also helps everyone stay on track, no matter when they’re available or not.

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Tracking Productivity

Unlike when working onsite, managers can’t physically see remote workers working, making it harder to gauge their productivity and determine how time is allocated.

It’s also no surprise that some individuals have diverse environments, each with its own set of distractions. That’s why it’s safe to say that it’s really not for everyone. However, if you want to reap the benefits of hiring your offshore staff…
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This is what you can do…

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• Use productivity and time-tracking tools
• Establish KPIs
• Encourage self-reporting
• Focus on outputs and results
• Evaluate and adjust

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Internet Connectivity Issues

While internet speeds in the Philippines have shown improvement recently, they still don’t match those found in some other countries. If you're thinking about hiring a virtual assistant from the Philippines or any other high-value role, it's wise to keep this in mind as you set your expectations.
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Implement these strategies...

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• When hiring remote staff, make sure to include a reliable internet service provider (ISP) and equipment as part of the requirements
• You can also provide internet allowance or support
• Encourage backup internet solutions, such as mobile hotspot or a secondary ISP
• Use cloud-based tools, such as Google Docs, which have offline modes or sync capabilities

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Security and Data Privacy

Remote workers often require access to company systems and databases, including confidential information about your company. Since they don’t have the same level of cybersecurity as your office, they can be more susceptible to phishing attacks or other cyber threats.

Kroll, a financial and risk advisory firm, stated that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries, not only at risk of cybersecurity threats but also having experienced a multitude of cyberattacks.
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How to mitigate these risks?

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• Implement security measures such as VPNs, encryption of sensitive data, two-factor authentication, and more
• Use secure communication and collaboration tools
• Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training for remote workers
• Monitor for unusual activities and conduct regular audits to identify any vulnerabilities

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Cultural Differences

While Filipino culture is known to have a strong Western influence, it still has its Asian background. So, western companies should still consider learning these differences when hiring Filipino employees.
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Approaches you can take:

Providing cultural sensitivity training can help foster mutual understanding, respect cultural differences, and promote effective communication. This will help minimize unnecessary misunderstandings and ensure alignment with your business objectives.

Promoting cultural exchange initiatives or shared experiences is also advisable to help nurture unity within departments or teams.

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Creating a Strong Company Culture

Even Filipinos, who are quite known for their community spirit, may feel disconnected from your company. After all, distance can make it hard to foster company culture due to the limited interaction.
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Overcome this by…

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• Foster open communication channels and engage your Filipino remote talent with company updates and initiatives
• Organize virtual team-building activities.
• Acknowledge your team’s achievements and success through virtual platforms

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Managing Different Work Styles

Filipinos have communication styles, preferences, etc., which can be different from what is practiced in Western companies. This can be their respect for authority, priorities, and even technological proficiency. 
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How to solve it?

Provide flexibility for your Filipino remote team’s work style. By doing so, you promote a positive work culture, enhance team collaboration, and harness the skills that top Filipino talent can provide to your business.

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Ensuring Accountability

Remote work often requires a high degree of self-management and autonomy. So, if you don’t provide clear direction, set expectations, and present supervision structures, your remote team may struggle to maintain accountability.
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Do this to help:

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• Establish clear expectations (i.e. roles, responsibilities, performance metrics, etc.)
• Encourage asking questions
• Provide support and resources
• Regularly review performance and provide constructive feedback

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Dealing with Power Outages

Depending on the area of your remote worker, they may experience power outages, scheduled or not. The reliability of power infrastructure in the Philippines can vary across regions, leading to disruption of work schedules and deadlines.
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What can you do?

You don’t want to miss out on high-impact Filipino talent, especially when they offer exceptional quality of work and can help you achieve up to 80% savings on labor costs. 

To ensure their productivity remains uninterrupted, consider these strategies:

• Require backup power solutions
• Allow flexible working hours
• Provide remote workers with reliable technology and devices
• Establish clear protocols and alternative methods for power outages

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Providing Training and Development

When hiring remote workers, such as web developers and virtual assistants from the Philippines, you not only want to ensure they are equipped to perform their roles effectively. Of course, you also want to provide them with opportunities to upskill and continually improve. However, organizing effective training can be challenging due to factors like time zone differences and internet connectivity issues.
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Manage it by…

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• Offering training sessions multiple times
• Using reliable, user-friendly training platforms
• Incorporating interactive elements to keep them engaged
• Providing access to all training materials and resources
• Developing personalized training plans when able

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Handling Legal and Compliance Issues

Another challenge of hiring remote workers from the Philippines is understanding their local labor laws and their taxation requirements. Moreover, it’s crucial to draft employment contracts that are both compliant with local and international laws.
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Here’s the best solution

Work with a remote staffing firm like MultiplyMii, which has extensive experience in connecting businesses with top Filipino talent. From vetting up until onboarding, we’ll have your ideal candidate with you in no time!
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Why Hiring From the Philippines Is Still Worth It

Despite the challenges we've mentioned, let's be honest: the value that Filipino remote talent can bring to your business is immense.

Let us show you why hiring remote workers from the Philippines could be the smartest decision you'll ever make.
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Filipinos are highly skilled

Filipino professionals bring a lot to the table! From IT and customer service to design and admin support, you'll find talented individuals ready to rock any role with their top-notch skills.
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Filipinos communicate well

One of the best things about Filipino workers? Their amazing English communication skills. You'll have smooth, clear conversations without any language barriers, making collaboration a breeze.
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Filipinos are a great culture fit

Filipinos are known for their friendliness and adaptability. They easily fit into diverse teams and bring a positive, collaborative vibe that’s perfect for building a strong, cohesive team.
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Filipinos have an amazing work ethic

When it comes to dedication and reliability, Filipino remote workers stand out. They consistently go the extra mile to meet deadlines and deliver outstanding results, ensuring your projects are always in good hands.
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Filipinos’ services cost less than local counterparts

Looking for quality without breaking the bank? Hiring from the Philippines is a cost-effective option. You get access to top talent at a fraction of the cost, thanks to the lower cost of living there!
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Check out our FREE salary guide and compare how much you stand to gain!
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Add Filipino Talent to Your Growing Team

Ready to supercharge your business with top Filipino remote talent?

At MultiplyMii, we have a proven track record of empowering businesses to scale successfully. By connecting our clients with skilled Filipino professionals, ranging from accountants to virtual assistants in the Philippines, we’ve enabled over 250 businesses to maximize their full potential.

Want to save on costs without compromising work quality?

Connect with us today and discover how Filipino remote talent can make a difference for you!

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