Scheduling Slack messages to be received during work hours.
Balancing time zone considerations when putting a meeting in the calendar.
Editing an email to ensure clarity across language barriers.
Juggling leave schedules around cross-cultural holiday considerations.
Managing daily work across a global team isn’t a new consideration for widely distributed teams, and at Justworks, it’s a core part of the company’s identity.
As employees collaborate across borders, time zones and cultures, they bring diversity and richness to their work and the overall organizational ethos. Interviews with team members reveal the personality, adaptability and systems that drive this international collaboration, showcasing Justworks’ commitment to fostering global unity while delivering top-notch services to its small business customers.
What Justworks Does
Justworks simplifies business management by providing access to corporate-level benefits, automated payroll and compliance support on a unified cloud-based platform.
New York City-based Group Product Manager Brianne Wilson works on the team that manages Justworks’ international solutions. Wilson’s daily interactions span continents, from technology teams in Brazil and New York to product teams in Canada, Italy, Lebanon and the Netherlands.
“The international nature of our team has deeply influenced how we work together,” she said. “It forces us to prioritize asynchronous communication and thoughtful documentation.”
Wilson’s team optimizes tools like Slack, Loom and co-authored documents to ensure seamless collaboration across time zones. Recorded meetings, clear Slack messages and robust pre-meeting documentation empower team members to contribute effectively, even if they can’t attend meetings live.
This approach sets the stage for how Justworks unites a globally distributed workforce through intentional communication, cultural celebration and an emphasis on psychological safety, all while the company helps small businesses grow and manage their teams globally.
Uniting a Globally Distributed Workforce
For Head of International Sales Val Avila, working with a team dispersed across New York City, Chicago, Miami, Buenos Aires and Mexico City requires more than just the right tools — it demands a conscious effort to celebrate cultural diversity.
“We bring snacks from our own cultures to off-site meetings, share travel stories and openly discuss our holiday traditions,” Avila shared.
These intentional moments of connection go a long way in building trust. The team has also embraced trust-building exercises during in-person gatherings and fosters psychological safety in their daily interactions.
“English is a second or third language for some of our team members,” Avila said. “We openly address how that may affect communication and encourage pre-set questions and role plays. This emphasis on vulnerability and openness has been a game-changer for us.”
“English is a second or third language for some of our team members. We openly address how that may affect communication … this emphasis on vulnerability and openness has been a game-changer for us.”
The logistical challenges of working on a globally distributed team are real. Wilson pointed to meeting culture as a significant hurdle the team has worked to overcome.
“Most meetings are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time, which can coincide with dinner for our colleagues in Europe. To address this, we’ve become rigorous about recording meetings and following up with clear Slack notes,” she said.
London-based HR Operations Manager Paul Marks emphasized the importance of clear communication systems. “Navigating different time zones and work hours can be tricky, but we’ve implemented house rules for communication expectations, response times and preferred channels.”
Tools like Jira, Notion and Slack help Marks’ team streamline operations and ensure transparency across borders.
Celebrating Diversity Through Shared Experiences
The company’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging is evident in its initiatives. For Women’s History Month, Justworks’ gender identity in the workplace employee resource group, Square1, collaborated with regional offices to give flowers to colleagues worldwide — a simple yet powerful gesture of appreciation.
In another instance, the team celebrated the launch of Justworks in Australia with an international summit in Mexico City. Employees from India, Argentina, the United States and the United Kingdom gathered to share ideas and experiences.
“Food became a way to immerse ourselves in another culture,” Avila recalled, mentioning a memorable visit to Taqueria Gabriel.
Marks highlights the importance of remote team members feeling recognized.
“Even something as simple as a Slack message of recognition can remind colleagues that they’re part of a team,” he says. The company’s vibrant global communities, such as a running group where employees share marathon milestones, further strengthen these bonds.
For those new to international teams, Wilson and Avila both stress adaptability and empathy.
“Be open to change,” Wilson advised. “What worked before may not work now, especially as you scale globally.”
“Be open to change. What worked before may not work now, especially as you scale globally.”
Avila echoed her sentiment. “Don’t expect everyone to work or think the same way. Celebrate the differences and create space for understanding.”
Marks added that collaboration is crucial. “Hold regular check-ins and celebrate achievements,” he said. “Recognize the importance of setting processes that accommodate varying time zones and communication styles.”
Aligned in Driving Customer-Centric Growth
Despite the internal focus on fostering an international culture, Justworks remains deeply connected to its small business customers. The company’s research team partners with product managers and designers to conduct surveys and interviews, ensuring customer needs are always front and center.
“We have an incredible culture of knowledge sharing at Justworks,” Wilson said. “Our teams lead with openness and a customer-centered view, which keeps the challenges of small businesses at the forefront of our work.”
Justworks’ journey toward building a globally connected team reflects its broader mission to empower small businesses around the world. As the company continues to expand, its emphasis on cultural understanding, flexibility and innovation positions it as a leader in the global workforce space.
“We’re on an incredible journey of scaling a global employer of record business,” Marks said. “Working with talented individuals worldwide has allowed us to learn from different cultures, ultimately enriching our work and the solutions we provide to customers.”
“Working with talented individuals worldwide has allowed us to learn from different cultures, ultimately enriching our work and the solutions we provide to customers.”
From fostering psychological safety to celebrating diversity through food and traditions, Justworks exemplifies how an international culture can drive both organizational growth and personal connection. By putting people at the center of its global strategy, the company is not only building a stronger workforce but also shaping a more inclusive and innovative future.
