You see them coming by more and more online: groups of colleagues working at a sunny destination. The kick off of the week takes place at the garden table with a nice view, between meetings they take a dip in the pool and they end the day with a barbecue. They are on workation and have a nice workplace in the sun.
Working from abroad
More and more companies are exploring the limits of freedom. They are more flexible than ever in determining the workplace. Not only are employees often given ownership of their workplace, but they are considering or embracing remote working. For example, colleagues go abroad together. This is often true for a short period of remote working. If you go abroad for a good number of months, it makes collaborating with your colleagues and connecting with your team a bit more difficult.
More and more companies recognize that productive work can take place anywhere and that the preference for a particular workplace is very personal. For some, it is at home or in the office and others see themselves occasionally sitting in Spain with their laptops.
Companies often choose a sunny destination at workations. Especially in the cold Dutch winter, it is very attractive to visit some warmer temperatures. Europe is then preferred, because the time difference is otherwise a challenge in the cooperation with colleagues and customers. But you also regularly see a group of colleagues working from far away tropical places, such as Bali and Curacao. They are then together in comfortable accommodation, often a villa or nice hotel. What does their day look like then, for example? They get up early to go surfing, then crawl behind their laptop to work and end the day with a drink by the pool.
Teambuilding on steroids
Are you excited to see your boss in his or her swimwear? Maybe not. But I’ve never heard anyone say that’s the reason for not going on workation with the company. A client recently described their workation as “team building on steroids.” I thought that was a nice description. It’s a unique journey you take together. The work doesn’t stop, you really have time for each other and get to know each other on another level. This greatly strengthens the bond between you.
For people with children, the attraction of remote work is often a bit less, but nothing is impossible. It may be more difficult to arrange and take more effort to go on workstation, but even they sometimes enjoy a week away from home. I hear that around me often enough. A little time to themselves, focus on that one project or the chance to recharge in a different environment.
Growing need for remote working
Not everyone has the desire to work remotely, but the need is growing. Certainly millennials and Gen Z are growing up with freedom and want a say in their workplace. Currently, they are entering a job market full of opportunity. There is an abundance of work, so they have the luxury position of choosing a job they think is perfect. Not allowed to work remote somewhere? If so, they might just look further afield.
Besides team building, there are more reasons to go on a company workout together. It is not only connection of your team, but also a nice reward for hard work. In addition, it’s a way to put yourself on the map as an employer. Count on attracting potential employees with a workation or remote working as a condition of employment. It’s a smart form of recruitment marketing.
Not all employers have realized it yet, but a company workstation is increasingly seen as an investment in future-proof employment. It responds to the growing need to choose where and how to work.
Reading tip: Do I have to pay for a workation myself?
