International travel virtually came to a standstill during the Covid-19 pandemic. As countries around the world closed their borders and took extra security measures, people were forced to vacation a little closer to home. Staycations were all the rage and for a while they seemed to fill a void. But now we’ve moved on.
2022 is officially the year of revenge trips. Al, according to Market overview1.5 billion more passengers fly internationally compared to 2021. It seems that the whole world is trying to make up for lost time as many households are planning more than one trip abroad this year.
While several vacations a year sounds great, employees still run into age-old problems, especially annual leave. The average worker in the EU gets by 25 days off per year, which will quickly be used up if you plan a week or two at the beach and take a few city breaks.
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Enter the work location. Home workers are now deciding to pack their laptops and work from different locations around the world. So instead of completing your 9-5 at a kitchen table in Trieste, you could work from a French chateau or vineyard in Tuscany.
Workcations is arguably one of the best perks of a fully remote job, and Revolut is a company that makes it possible, by allowing employees to work anywhere in the world for up to 60 days a year.
This is the first time in history that people can really work anywhere, but in practice things don’t go smoothly. A recent poll on LinkedIn showed that many people are insecure about working conditions, with 53% saying a holiday should be a holiday, end of.
If you’re toying with the idea of working abroad this year, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Contact your boss
Before flying to a desert island, check with your line manager and make sure work locations are allowed as they can have tax implications, among other things. Plus, you’ll save an awkward conversation when your video background suddenly changes from your guest bedroom to a cabin on the beach.
Think about time zones
You don’t want your job to get up at the crack of dawn or work late into the night. Try to pick a location with a similar time zone to the rest of your colleagues (we recommend a maximum of two hours or less). This means you can still attend all the important meetings, but you can also go out in the evenings and have a social life.
Find a good coworking space
You probably don’t want to sit in an empty apartment all day at work. This is where coworking spaces come in. Most major cities and towns have coworking hubs where you can rent a desk for a day or a week. They will have fast internet, meeting rooms and, most importantly, air conditioning. It’s also a great way to meet locals and other like-minded travelers. Some even have their own pool or bar; what could be better?
Plan your workload
It may sound like a contradiction, but workcations work best when you’re not sitting at your desk all the time. Plan a few half days or long weekends in your absence so you can do the typical touristy things, such as sightseeing or spending some time on the beach. You really want to experience the country you are visiting. Don’t spend all your time being a slave to your laptop.
Have a nice holiday
At some point you really have to go on vacation. There’s nothing like the feeling of turning on your absence and knowing that you’re completely off for a few days. To avoid burnout in the future, employees and employers will have to distinguish between working hours and full annual leave, otherwise this advantage could become a double-edged sword.
Are you ready to find your next fully remote position? You can find the best tech jobs on the House of Talent Job Board today