It’s been a difficult couple of years for the Australian labour market. At least, that’s the case if you’re a business trying to hire. For candidates, it’s been pretty good.

During that time, Australian businesses got used to hiring remote workers, and more and more have started to turn to offshore staff to solve their recruitment issues.

While we read lots about what Australian employers and employees want to do, we don’t hear so much about what offshore employees want. And it’s an important thing to understand so that we can make the experience of working with our organisations even better.

For businesses already outsourcing to the country or for those seeking talent as a service, the Philippines is fantastically rich in skilled labour and relatively close (and less expensive) for Australian companies.

Like in most other countries, the COVID-19 pandemic signalled drastic evolution in workplaces across the country, and many workers turned to remote jobs.

As we move further away from the pandemic, employees have now had time to experience all the ups and downs of working remotely. Many have now chosen to return to the office or been asked to return by their employers.

So, it’s a good time for employers to reassess the needs and wants of their offshore teams in the Philippines for the coming year to make sure you’re getting what you want from the deal – and that they are too.

What do offshore employees in the Philippines want in 2023?

After speaking with countless skilled employees in the Philippines, one thing stands out as a top priority: autonomy. Derived from the Greek word for “self-governance”, autonomy is – in its simplest definition – acting according to your own values and interests. This couldn’t be more appropriate to describe the desires of today’s workforce.

You might know autonomy by other names. Flexibility, versatility, and independence have all been buzzwords in the years since the pandemic. Remote workers are now used to this lifestyle and the wealth of benefits it brings. In fact, a recent survey by The Hustle found that a lack of flexible working opportunities was a leading cause of employees quitting their jobs.

Autonomous work clearly matters among offshore workers in the Philippines and continuing along these lines is what they so badly desire – and with good reason.

Autonomy: Why it’s so important for offshore workers

Countries around the world are increasingly looking to adopt more flexible work routines, such as the introduction of the four-day working week. Initial trials in Australia have proved encouraging, demonstrating how flexibility and the autonomy that usually accompanies it can be naturally integrated into current business models.

But in the Philippines, autonomy is a necessity for offshore workers. For one, daily commutes are often horrendously exhausting, to the point where some successful candidates have to refuse job positions due to traffic problems. Metro Manila is immensely overcrowded, with some employees having to commute up to four hours a day just to secure a good job.

Allowing your offshore talent – who are already far from where you’re based – to work from home can literally give them four hours of their day back that would otherwise be lost to the commute. You’ll see many positive changes as a result, both for your employees and your company. Relationships will improve among colleagues and management, productivity and performance will increase, and both your staff retention and acquisition rates will skyrocket.

Internet connections across the Philippines are usually extraordinarily good. It might surprise you to hear that average download speeds for broadband in homes are around 100mbps, which is roughly equal to – if not better than – internet speeds in Australia. This means working from home, even on a mobile device, is a real option for many offshore employees.

That said, Filipinos are naturally sociable people, so many may still want an in-office work environment if offered the chance. A hybrid working model where employees can work from home or come into the office is what many workers want, as it gives them the best of both worlds. Sometimes all we need is a change of scenery to boost our morale and performance.

Why choose Ascendia Works?

Here at Ascendia Works, autonomy is at the forefront of everything we do. Your dedicated offshore talent has the option to either work from home or come into a shared working space, or both! They’ll have complete independence over how and where they choose to work.

While we are pioneers of the autonomous offshore working model, the concept is nothing new in Australia. Companies like Telstra operate using similar workplace models and have recorded positive increases in employee retention as a result. If there’s a guaranteed way to increase your chances of attracting and retaining skilled workers, it’s hybrid working opportunities.

On a personal note, I truly enjoy the benefits of being able to work from wherever and I want to be able to offer this to other people. Autonomy shouldn’t just be reserved as a luxury for managers – it should be enjoyed by employees in all areas of a business.

By offering workers autonomy over where they work, employers can not only retain their employees but also help improve their quality of life and satisfaction.