Ask HN: How do you adapt to all coworkers being offshore?

by wonderwonder on 6/4/2025, 1:23:49 PM with 4 comments
I work at a large company. When I first started, the team was primarily contractors both onshore and offshore. Approximately 85 people in total. While even the onshore were contractors, they were all long term and I was able to form relationships with them. A couple years ago they were all let go and I am the only onshore developer and everyone else (~50 people) is offshore.

This is not an attack on them, they are all good, very skilled people. Their time zone is just very different from mine so they are finishing when I start the day. In addition, they all work in office so have established groups. I work remote. I am the outsider who they just loop in when things go wrong or they need some help. Again no fault of their own, its just how it is.

So I find myself with essentially no one to talk to, work with or even chat with during the work day. This has greatly affected my satisfaction with my job and I find myself looking at even meetings with stress. Its bled into every aspect of my work and I just find myself not caring about it. I'm at the point where I likely need to get another job just for some sense of comradery. I still do my work well and am respected but I just don't want to be here anymore.

Is there a way to save this or just time to look for something else? The pay is good and I have good work life balance, its just not fulfilling in any way.

  • by sherdil2022 on 6/4/2025, 5:13:15 PM

    Talk to your manager and team - and meet them in-person once. Stay for couple days with the team and mingle with them and work with them. That goes a long way. Believe me. But you don't have to. Sometimes that in-person / facetime works.

  • by duxup on 6/4/2025, 1:26:59 PM

    Sounds like it's time for a new job where people are local to you.

    I don't think there's any magic here, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with your working relationships. Just a personal preference that is understandable.