One of the best things about hiring a Filipino VA is the immense wealth of talent they have to offer. A Filipino VA can help with administrative tasks, content creation, digital marketing, social media management, web development, or even audio and video editing. You’re sure to find a VA who can help you with your business needs. Not only that, when you hire a Filipino VA, you are ensured of a hard working and reliable virtual assistant. Other benefits include low cost labor and outstanding English language proficiency.
With all the benefits of hiring a Filipino VA, some business owners still have their apprehensions. One of which is the difference between time zones.
For business owners who are in North America, the difference in time zones are as follows:
- Phils. ahead of Eastern Time by 12 hours.
- Phils. ahead of Central Time by 13 hours.
- Phils. ahead of Mountain Time by 14 hours.
- Phils. ahead of Pacific Time by 15 hours.
Note: Add 1 hour from November to March.
For business owners who are in Australia, the difference in time zones are as follows:
- Phils. behind Sydney by 3 hours.
- Phils. behind Brisbane by 3 hours.
- Phils. behind Hobart by 3 hours.
- Phils. behind Melbourne by 3 hours.
- Phils. behind Canberra by 3 hours.
- Phils. behind Adelaide by 2.5 hours.
- Phils. Same time as Perth.
Note: Australia Daylight Saving Time begins at 2am (AEST) on the first Sunday in October and ends at 3am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on the first Sunday in April. Your Filipino VA’s time zone is PHT (GMT+8).
Depending on where your business is in the world, the time difference could be huge or miniscule. However, the time difference won’t matter that much when working with a Filipino VA. Your Filipino VA won’t need micromanaging. So, if you are flexible with working hours you can simply delegate work and have regular check-ins at the start or the end of your business day. However, if you need them to work in your time zone, just be upfront in your job post. That way, you can be sure that the VA you are hiring is someone who prefers the night shift.
Here are 3 ways you can work with your Filipino VA despite the time difference.
- Leverage the use of technology
Set up tools and systems that allow you to communicate and collaborate in real time. This is important for when you want to provide instructions, go over details, answer inquiries, or provide clarification. Some of the more popular examples of collaboration tools with built in instant messaging software are:
You should also set up times for regular meetings, team huddles and one-on-one catch ups to make sure that everyone working on a project is calibrated and on the right track. Use video conferencing software such as Skype, Zoom, MS Teams, or Google Meet.
Lastly, install time tracking software to make sure that you have visibility over projects. This lets you see who is working on which task at any given time. It also increases transparency and employee accountability. Read about the “most popular time tracking tools for your business” here.
- Provide flexibility
You can opt to have your Filipino VA work during your normal business hours or during their work hours. However, the sweet spot is to agree on a hybrid arrangement where both your work schedules overlap for a few hours. This could be beneficial when there is a stark difference between your time zones. If this works for your business, it could be mutually fulfilling for both parties.
- Trust their skills
The time difference should not be a hindrance to your Filipino VAs performance. Trust that they are equipped with the competencies needed for them to be able to fulfill their responsibilities and deliver excellent results.
If you feel that you have too much work on your plate, a Filipino VA can definitely help you manage your growing tasks despite time differences. Getting much needed assistance can let you focus on growing your business. Book a discovery call to learn how we can help.
