New data from 2BeHire’s 2024 Global Remote Workforce Report reveals a bombshell: 67% of remote employees admit to lying about their true location or time zone during hiring—a deception costing companies $7.3B annually in productivity losses and compliance risks. But why do candidates risk their careers over this one detail? And how can employers spot (and stop) it? Here’s the unfiltered truth, backed by 2BeHire’s proprietary research.
The Lie: “I’m Based in Your Time Zone”
2BeHire’s survey of 12,000 remote workers found that 67% falsely claimed alignment with a company’s primary time zone to secure roles. One respondent confessed: “I said I lived in Texas but worked from Bali. I needed the job, but clocking in at 2 AM destroyed my health.”
Why it’s toxic for employers:
- Teams miss real-time collaboration windows.
- Compliance nightmares (tax/legal implications of unreported work locations).
- Burnout-driven turnover: 43% of “time zone liars” quit within 6 months.
Why Candidates Lie (It’s Not Greed)
2BeHire’s psychologists identified three drivers:
- Fear of rejection: 61% believe admitting their true location disqualifies them.
- Misleading job postings: Phrases like *“Must overlap 4+ hours with EST”* signal inflexibility.
- AI resume scanners: Tools auto-reject applicants outside “approved” regions.
“Candidates aren’t malicious—they’re desperate,” says Dr. Lena Torres, 2BeHire’s Head of Behavioral Insights. “They’ll say whatever your ATS wants to hear.”
How to Spot the Lie Before Hiring
2BeHire’s tech team developed a 3-step verification hack used by firms like Shopify and Zapier:
- Time Zone “Pop Quiz”
During interviews, ask: “It’s 2 PM here—what’s your local time?” Liars often hesitate or miscalculate. - IP Address Analysis Tools
Apps like TimeZync or Tardis log candidates’ IP addresses during video calls (with consent). - Asynchronous Work Tests
Assign a task due at their 9 AM. If they submit at 3 AM your time, dig deeper.
Prevent the Lie Without Losing Talent
2BeHire’s study proved that 82% of candidates will be honest if employers:
- Ditch time zone requirements for “core hours” (e.g., 4 flexible hours of overlap).
- Use location-agnostic pay tiers (skill-based, not geography-based).
- Adopt “results-only” workflows (track output, not clock-ins).
Example: Automattic (WordPress’ parent company) slashed location lies by 90% after publishing salary formulas and letting employees work from 150+ countries.
Conclusion
Location lies aren’t a moral failing—they’re a symptom of rigid hiring systems. As 2BeHire teams notes: “The future of remote work isn’t surveillance; it’s designing roles so candidates don’t need to lie.” By embracing flexibility and transparency, employers can turn deceit into trust overnight.