Glossary
Remote-First
An operating model where remote work is the default and processes are designed for distributed teams rather than retrofitted onto an office.
A remote-first company treats distributed work as the default, not the exception. Documentation, decision-making, and tooling are built for people who are not in the same room — which is exactly what makes hiring globally practical.
Remote-first is different from "remote-friendly", where an office is still the centre of gravity and remote workers are second-class. In a genuinely remote-first setup, a team member in Delhi has the same access and standing as one in San Francisco.
For companies building offshore teams, adopting remote-first practices is the single biggest predictor of whether the arrangement thrives or quietly fails.