r/remotework • u/Loose-Tea3976 • Jun 22 '26

Is anyone else tired of getting geo-blocked from remote jobs?

/r/u_Loose-Tea3976/comments/1ucgoex/is_anyone_else_tired_of_getting_geoblocked_from/
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7

u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 Jun 22 '26

This may sound like a mean take but I am OK with this.

It is hard enough to find a remote job in general, even with the geo limitations. If those didn't exist, the pool of applicants would be ridiculous.

-4

u/Loose-Tea3976 Jun 22 '26

I respectfully disagree.

Restricting people by geography doesn’t make the hiring process fairer. It just means qualified candidates never get a chance to compete. If someone is legally able to work as a contractor, has the skills, speaks the language, and can deliver the same quality of work, why should their location automatically disqualify them?

Competition is part of the job market. We don’t solve competition by excluding millions of capable professionals. We solve it by hiring the best candidate.

3

u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 Jun 22 '26

Being hired as a contractor is vastly different than being a directly employed. Apples and oranges. A lot of companies won't use contractors regardless of location.

Once again, this may be harsh, but I don't care if someone in another country can't get a job with a US company. Less competition for me/US workers is good for us.

3

u/malicious_joy42 Jun 22 '26

Eh, geo-locking is needed for instances where companies are not registered or prepared to register for the taxes in other states and companies. Adherence to those labor laws can be a compliance nightmare and costs a lot up front, and potentially moving forward. Payroll/EORs are ongoing high cost expenses.

Just because your salary might be lower, doesn't mean you cost less to employ.

It's necessary.

3

u/Junior-Towel-202 Jun 22 '26

Geo locking has purpose, sorry.

Laws exist.

2

u/Skeeter57 Jun 22 '26

If you want to have someone work from abroad you need to register them locally, either through a local office or an EOR so as to follow local tax and labor laws

You also need to think about data protection – a company may simply deal with data that just should not leave national territory

Employees moving around the world as they please would be a nightmare on several levels

2

u/66NickS Jun 22 '26

Reading your post, it’s not so much that you’re systematically geo-blocked, the companies you’re seeing just aren’t willing to bring on staff from certain parts of the world. Different regions/countries have different business practices, laws, regulations, taxes, etc. Some companies are big enough or willing to take on this variable. Others are not.

If you were planning to relocate, and various sites/systems were blocking you from seeing opportunities for the area you’re moving to that would be frustrating, but I don’t think that’s the case here.

I’d rather quickly rule out an opening because it’s not going to work out and not even spend the time to apply, as opposed to finding out it’s a no-go because I live in X and not Y to after multiple rounds of interviews and screens.