Senior Google exec opposes remote work, moves to New Zealand to work remotely
The big question here is how Senior Google executive Urs Hölzle managed to get a "remote work visa" from the government of New Zealand. It reminds me of the "special treatment" that Peter Thiel got, where he got New Zealand citizenship after spending only 12 days in New Zealand [1].<p>It is almost non-existent in the western world to be able to get a remote-work visa (minus Croatia and Czech Republic--both countries are part of the European Union and therefore become "westernized" quickly after accession).<p>Yes, you can technically get _self-employment_, non-remote work visas in many European Union countries. But, the point and intent of such visas is that you contribute to their economy, assimilate, learn the local language, and eventually become a functioning contributing citizen in their society.<p>The hypocrisy of the situation around remote work makes me angry, as I am disabled and I require remote work as an accommodation. I have 2 rare immune-mediated neurological diseases affecting my peripheral nervous system, plus type 1 diabetes (autoimmune and insulin-dependent).<p>I should also point out something else unfair. I am a dual US|EU (Croatian) citizen who works part-time remotely as a contractor for a US-based company in Croatia, while studying for her masters degree in electrical engineering full time. Because I am an EU citizen, I can work in 30+ countries remotely, outside of the United States, while essentially getting paid more (compared to the locals and most other European Union citizens) for just having US citizenship and related credentials. I basically live like a queen in Croatia.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/new-zealand-gave-peter-thiel-citizenship-after-spending-just-12-days-there" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/29/new-zealand-ga...</a>