Working remote in Italy is a dream many people have. Maybe it’s the food, or the views, the art, or the culture. All around the globe, there are companies allowing employees to work at home. Across the world there are many similar advantages and disadvantages. Italy’s government has decided to try to control the virus by pushing companies to stop or slow down business activities. They are encouraging workers who are able to work at home… work at home. As of April 2021, Italy has had about 7 million people working from home, or alternating between home and the office.
Advantages of Working Remote in Italy
One advantage of working remote in Italy, is that they have adopted a ‘smart working’ technique. The concept of ‘smart working villages’ are becoming a new thing. Some Italian towns have offered to put out financial help for those that are willing to move to these villages to work remotely. The benefit is not just for those that are moving there. It is helping the villages and sprucing up the declining towns with new residents and giving life back into them.
Sometimes there are the troubles of separating home life and work life, such as longer work hours when at home. Still Italians are putting that to the side and lean more towards not wanting to return to the office at all. On a scale of 1 to 10, Italians are saying working at home is an 8. Of those, about 28% saying they do not want to return to the office. People are saying ‘smart working’ gives them more of a chance to spend time with their kids . Some claim it improves their concentration working.
Disadvantages of Working Remote in Italy
Chances are the people you need to coordinate with to work in Italy, don’t share your sense of urgency. Everything takes longer than you could possibly expect. Permits, visas, utilities are going to quite a while to setup. You either need to commit to a long term plan, or a short term plan. Long term has all the benefits you would expect, with lots of waiting in line to go with it. Short term you may want to go the Air BNB or VRBO route. This way you can have all your utilities, internet, etc. taken care of for you. The downside is you are limited to 90 days in country without a visa.
We had a great VRBO property in Rome walking distance from the Vatican when we were there. Venice tends to be very expensive in the main city. But if you stay on the opposite side of the grand canal, prices drop dramatically. Their are still plenty of Vaporettas to get you over to the main city. Less touristy areas can be downright cheap and some seasonal destinations are great when everyone else is away. We had a small hotel to ourselves on Lake Garda in April.
Read More:
https://www.statista.com/topics/8380/remote-work-in-italy/#dossierKeyfigures
https://www.thelocal.it/20210511/will-italy-really-pay-you-to-move-to-its-smart-working-villages/
