The Difference Between a VA and an Employee: What You Need to Know

Gemma Simmons
Aug 10, 2025
2 min read

The Difference Between a VA and an Employee: What You Need to Know

Ctrl + Alt + Assist – When things crash, we reboot your workflow.

Hiring help in your business can feel like a big step—but if you’re debating whether to hire a Virtual Assistant or take on an employee, the differences go far beyond the job title.

This blog breaks down the key differences so you can make the best decision for your stage of business, budget, and goals.

What is a Virtual Assistant (VA)?

A Virtual Assistant is a self-employed business owner who offers flexible support remotely. We work with multiple clients, typically on a freelance basis, and we’re specialists in admin, operations, communication, and workflow management.

Think: flexible, skilled, remote support without the overhead.

VA vs Employee: Key Differences

Here’s a quick side-by-side:

	Virtual Assistant	Employee
Status	Self-employed contractor	Employed by your business
Payment	Hourly or package rate	Salary/wage + tax/NIC
Hours	Flexible, agreed contract	Fixed hours (FT/PT)
Holiday/sick pay	No obligation	You’re responsible
Equipment	Uses own tools/software	You provide hardware
Hiring risk	Low commitment	Higher legal/employer responsibilities
Training needed	Comes with existing skill set	May require onboarding

Cost: It’s Not Just About the Hourly Rate

Hiring a VA might seem more expensive per hour—but there’s zero overhead. No pension, no PAYE, no sick leave, no desk, no annual leave to track.

You only pay for the actual hours of support, not lunch breaks or downtime.

Skill & Specialisation

Most VAs are highly experienced across industries—many have corporate, project management, or operations backgrounds.

At Ctrl + Alt + Assist, you’re not just hiring a helper—you’re hiring a strategic partner who understands systems, streamlining, and business growth.

Flexibility You Can Build On

Need help 3 hours a week? Done.
Want to scale support during a busy period? Easy.
Need a specific skill like inbox detoxing or CRM setup? We’ve got that too.

Try doing that with a part-time employee on fixed hours.

When an Employee Might Be Right

You need someone physically present (e.g. storefront admin)
You want long-term, full-time, in-house support
You’re ready to take on payroll and HR responsibilities

That said—many businesses get years of support from a good VA before ever needing to hire in-house.

The Bottom Line

Hiring a Virtual Assistant is like hiring an expert without the employer baggage. If you're still doing everything yourself and feel overwhelmed by the idea of bringing someone on full-time, a VA is the perfect in-between.