Global by design: how Linearity manages global talent with Remote

It’s often said that professionals make hard tasks look easy, and great designers are no exception. Their mastery of complicated design tools quickly turns dreams and ideas into reality. But what about those dreamers and ideators who haven’t hiked the steep learning curve to learn these tools? Well, they now have a program that’s just as powerful, but much simpler to use — and it’s called Vectornator by Linearity.

Linearity is on a quest to transform the design landscape with its exceptionally intuitive and precise platform. Serving a diverse clientele, from professional designers to casual creatives, its groundbreaking toolset enables users to effortlessly bring their visions to life. 

But to maintain their growth and foster ongoing innovation, Linearity needed to leverage the unique perspectives and expertise of a global workforce. 

To make this a reality, Linearity turned to Remote to onboard, manage, and pay its global workers — allowing them to bring robust design to the world.

Linearity at a glance

• Headquarters: Berlin, Germany

• Founded: 2017

• Number of employees with Remote: 27 

• Industry: Design and technology

Having initially burst onto the scene in 2017, Linearity provides a design software that has people in the creative world talking. With powerful yet easy-to-use tools, it helps companies produce high-quality design work quickly.

However, to bring such innovative software to life, it takes a diverse team. And according to Wiebke Schmidt, Linearity’s VP of People, the company’s talented group of international employees all bring their own unique perspectives to the table. 

“We’re an international mix of driven, passionate, and talented people, brought together by a desire to create the world’s best next-generation graphic design tool,” says Schmidt. “We’re a flat organization with a culture of collaboration and teamwork. We always empower our peers to be brave, and do what they think is best for the team and the company.”

But managing a global workforce comes with its own set of challenges, and Schmidt knows this all too well. Juggling the ever-changing legal landscape of global hiring and compliance can consume a lot of time and resources.

To find a solution, Linearity did what any forward-thinking company would do — sought a global employment partner who could lend a helping hand, allowing it to focus on what it does best. 

Enter Remote.

Global hiring by the numbers

Data is essential in sustainable headcount planning. And to maintain its position as a leading design software provider, Linearity needed to know the costs of bringing on new talent from across the globe. This is why the company turned to Remote’s in-product Employee Cost Calculator.

This time-saving tool made it a breeze for Linearity's hiring team to punch in the location and role of their prospective hires, giving them a snapshot of the cost of employment for each country.

I really like Remote’s Employee Cost Calculator. It helps us adjust salaries to local markets.

By sizing up the costs from one country to another, Linearity's decision makers knew just where to find the perfect blend of cost-effectiveness and top-notch talent from around the globe. This full picture view has become a critical component of Linearity’s global growth.

• Remote offers a flat pricing structure and no hidden fees when hiring new employees

• Remote’s has a seamless, self-serve platform for employers to quickly onboard and manage contractors and employees

• Remote’s in-product Employee Cost Calculator gives Linearity the information it needs to hire strategically around the world

Avoiding the international labor law maze

Linearity was already on top of the complexities of labor laws in Germany, but in order to hire internationally, its leaders needed that same level of knowledge for every country in which they intended to hire. This was an impractical resource drain for a company so focused on its employees and its product. To overcome the complex and ever-evolving maze of local labor laws in countries outside of Germany, Linearity turned to Remote and its team of local labor law specialists.

Remote’s specialists offer amazing support to our people team. They are the first point of contact for our employees outside of Germany for questions about payroll and employment contracts.

Crucially, Remote helps Linearity avoid misclassification — a common pitfall in international hiring that could expose the company to significant fines and penalties. By correctly classifying workers as employees or independent contractors, Linearity is able to maintain a compliant workforce, minimizing any risks associated with global expansion.

Remote’s in-depth knowledge of local labor laws and regulations have enabled Linearity to adapt its hiring practices and employee benefits to the specific requirements of each country, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for their global team. 

Maintaining Linearity’s equitable culture

To say the employee experience is important to Linearity is a massive understatement. Linearity cares deeply about what its employees think and how they feel. And their company retreats are proof.

“The coolest thing is our annual company retreat,” Schmidt says. “The whole company travels for a few days, works on strategic topics, and simply enjoys the time together. On our last retreat we spent four days in a castle!”

To preserve this strong culture, Linearity needs a seamless employer of record (EOR) and contractor platform — and Remote delivers. Unlike other EOR providers that can feel disconnected from the company, Remote integrates itself as an extension of Linearity's HR department. This ensures that a tight sense of company unity is maintained across the entire organization.

Everyone is treated equally, and the employees don't feel any difference. Our Remote account managers have quickly established a good relationship with us based on trust and appreciation.

It also creates a positive, unified employee experience for Linearity's international workforce. Remote effortlessly bridges the gap between employees outside of Germany and those within the country, providing everyone with the same level of support, resources, and a sense of belonging. So the next time Linearity embarks on a fairy tale retreat, they’ll be just as tight-knit.

Fortifying the employee lifecycle

Linearity was also well aware of the intricacies of employment contracts from its experiences of onboarding talent in Germany. This is why, as Linearity continues to expand, Remote’s international hiring experts and contract automation features have been so appreciated.

“The cooperation is top-notch — flawless, even,” says Schmidt, “And international work contracts can be created within a short time.”

By ensuring a smooth, compliant, quick onboarding process, Remote helps Linearity set the cultural tone from the start. Every step of the employee lifecycle is delivered with care, fostering workplace positivity for a global team.

The future for Linearity

The last year has been a whirlwind for Linearity. The company expanded its employee count by 50%, sourcing talent from across the planet. Healthy growth is the hiring mantra of the people team at Linearity, and despite the tough, unpredictable nature of the global economy, they’re hiring for a number of key roles — from marketing and product, to engineering. 

No matter what role is up for recruiting, Linearity can count on Remote to back it up, and bring talent into its unique culture. 

We just wish we could go on retreats in German castles, too!

Want to take the stress and ambiguity out of international hiring? Contact us today to schedule a friendly consultation with one of our global hiring experts.