“I don’t have leave”, “Can we cancel the plan, I have work”, “I skipped the meal, Project deadline is today”, “You carry on, I can’t make it because of work”. These are the most habitual sentences we use frequently at our workplace. During the pandemic, the clichéd excuses of not having time became an alienated phrase. Because we accomplished the art of work-life balancing by the time of exhausting lockdowns. Working in the comfort of our bedroom has engulfed the employees long way back. Discussions and debates heated up on social media in regard to the needs of hybrid workspaces and office room culture.
Every nook and corner of 9-5 workplaces was foraged for nonpareil ideas to tweak the work culture. And, now it has extended to a point that goes beyond the flexibility of working. Need to know what?!
Imagine you are on a trip. When you ask your co-traveler what he/she is doing, the reply you get is ‘Working’. You’ll be surprised right? This is the juncture you should get familiarized with the word ‘Workation’. Working while enjoying the cool breeze of beaches and the serene beauty of mountains.
Right at the moment, the WFH interpretation has changed from ‘Work from Home’ to ‘Work from Hills’. As per the industry studies, the mountain locations are always in more demand than the regular city locations in terms of workation. This trend has been there ever since Hotels have delved into providing extended stays. Travellers are reportedly more inclined to book their longer stays in hill stations.
A workation is a relatively new trend that involves employees taking trips while working remotely. The trips, along with similar ideas such as’ hush trips’ have increased in popularity as employees attempt to take advantage of flexible-working policies.
But does this trend really help in increasing productivity?
Choice of Employees / Vision of Employers
As we prepare our bucket lists for the coming years, industry experts take us through the travel trends that are expected to get bigger and better. Combining work with vacation is another trend that is expected to gain more popularity going forward — pushed further by the work-from-home or hybrid models that have been adopted at several workplaces. But, do the employers really enjoy this choice of employees?
Edul Patel, CEO, Mudrex has an answer for this. According to him, by combining work with vacation, individuals can explore new destinations, travel more, and rejuvenate while fulfilling their work commitments. This approach enhances productivity and creativity and promotes overall well-being by eliminating the boundaries between work and personal life.
Workation reflects the evolving nature of work in the digital age, where flexibility and work-life balance are highly valued. It can be a powerful tool to rejuvenate employees, stimulate creativity, and foster productivity. However, it also has its pitfalls.
“Workations can easily blur the lines between work and personal life, leading to burnout if not managed correctly. It’s crucial for organizations to strike a balance. While they can enhance productivity for certain tasks and boost employee engagement, they must not compromise well-defined work hours or necessitate an “always-on” mentality.”
Edul Patel, CEO, Mudrex
Adding on to this common notion of employees’ priority, Aditya Joshi, CEO at OpalForce has also defined Workation as a blend of work and vacation, involving working remotely from a vacation-like setting. He said, this can boost creativity and productivity by offering a refreshing change of scenery and reducing stress. However, its success depends on the individual’s discipline, a strong internet connection, and the support of their employer. If well-executed with clear boundaries between work and leisure, workations can effectively leverage work productivity.
“In essence, workations can be beneficial for leveraging work productivity if properly executed with clear guidelines and a conducive environment that supports both work and relaxation. It is crucial for individuals to strike the right balance to reap the benefits of this hybrid approach.”
Aditya Joshi, CEO at OpalForce
A recent study conducted by Berlin-based WorkMotion has highlighted Dubai as one of the leading cities for the emerging trend of ‘workations’. The study, which assessed various factors such as visa regulations, remote-working infrastructure, safety, mobility, happiness, affordability, and income-tax rates, also found that Barcelona is in the top position as the best city for a workation.
At the moment, this is getting common in India too, the major point to be discussed is how to implement this workation beneficially to both employers and employees.
Edul Patel has further shared, “To make ‘Workations’ work effectively, companies should focus on clear communication, task management, and respecting employee boundaries. I advocate for the adoption of flexible work arrangements, including ‘Workations,’ but always with the aim of enhancing the overall well-being of our workforce, without undermining productivity or work ethics. The key is to find the right equilibrium between work and relaxation to ensure both the company and its employees benefit from this innovative approach.”
The culture of a company holds a pivotal role in enhancing the productivity of its employees. A positive and supportive cultural environment serves as a powerful catalyst, inspiring team members to become more engaged, motivated, and ultimately, more productive.
Speaking about Uplers, an outsourcing company, Nital Shah, Founder and COO, has said, “For Uplers, our culture is the core essence of our identity, cultivating a deep sense of belonging and purpose among our staff. Being a fully remote company, we acknowledge the need to be particularly diligent in shaping a culture that empowers our employees to elevate their work productivity.”
“The concept of a ‘workation’ is important for employee productivity, particularly for companies operating in remote work setups, for several compelling reasons. A change in environment can stimulate creativity and innovation. It encourages employees to think differently and approach tasks with a fresh perspective. This can lead to increased engagement, problem-solving, and idea generation, ultimately benefiting the company’s productivity.”
Nital Shah, Founder and COO, Uplers
According to Shah, when employees feel a genuine connection to the company’s values and mission, they become more deeply engaged in their tasks, resulting in heightened productivity. Such an environment leads to increased job satisfaction and efficiency, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the organization.
“A workation seamlessly blends work and vacation, enabling people to work from diverse locations while indulging in leisure pursuits. The primary goal is to attain an improved work-life equilibrium, bolster productivity, and alleviate burnout, although its impact on work efficiency depends on various factors. The freedom to work from inspiring locales can bolster well-being and job contentment. However, potential distractions from vacation activities, differing time zones, and the need for a reliable internet connection can impede productivity. The porous boundary between work and leisure can lead to overexertion, counteracting the intended benefits. At last, workations have the potential to enhance work productivity with a change of surroundings, igniting creativity and motivation, but success depends on adept time management and boundary establishment. Used judiciously, workations can contribute to a more balanced work-life equilibrium.”
Balaji Viswanathan, MD and CEO, Expleo India.
Set your Wi-Fi across Global Countries
The portmanteau of ‘work’ and ‘vacation’ has gained popularity during the lockdown, especially as more countries are easing on travel restrictions. The basic goal of a workation is to use the change of scenery as a chance to refresh your mind and boost productivity. The world offers some best workation destinations. Let’s see what the globe holds for this unique idea of work.
São Paolo, Brazil
São Paulo stands out as a fantastic option for group workations due to how much larger the city is, allowing for way more communal work space. It’s also a city that’s fairly easy to navigate with English as a language, making it much more accessible.
Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane is nestled between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast with a population of 2.5 million. While it may be one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, it’s still the most budget-friendly option, compared to the more southern cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
Sofia, Bulgaria
Sofia is an excellent spot to work out of your workation as possible. The beautiful city provides you with robust WIFI speeds and startup culture. As a burgeoning business hub for Bulgaria, there is plenty of opportunity for networking if you can traverse the language barrier.
Lisbon, Portugal
The City of Light is ideal for budding entrepreneurs. Success stories of tech startups have highlighted the Portuguese capital’s flair for innovation and tech talent. With foreign companies also setting up offices (due to favorable tax conditions), it’s hardly surprising that Lisbon has become a popular destination for remote workers. Reportedly, in 2022, Portugal ranked first in the Work from Wherever Index by Kayak for its safety, cost of living and good internet connections.
Taipei, Taiwan
Known for its high-speed internet, which is free in many spots throughout the city, the global street food scene is evident on almost every corner and the array of night markets will leave you feeling full without draining your wallet. A visit to one of the many Taiwanese tea houses is a must during your downtime, and the mountain town of Jiufen should definitely be included in your itinerary.
Helsinki, Finland
Finns didn’t need the pandemic to introduce an entirely new level of flexibility to their work day. Since the 1990s, employees have benefited from the Working Hours Act, which introduced the freedom to work earlier or later in the day. Many companies offer jobs that are location-independent, so you’ll be able to adopt some of the local traditions for work–life balance while you’re visiting.
Medellin, Colombia
Medellin has made many lists featuring work-from-anywhere destinations, and for good reason. Surrounded by the beauty of the Andes mountains, stunning views accompany the plethora of coworking spaces and work cafes.
Bhutan
Nestled high up in the Himalayas, Bhutan is a place and a space unlike any other. Very few people have travelled to Bhutan and masstourism is non-existent, making Bhutan a very unique destination. Bhutan is renowned for measuring its success by Gross National Happiness. The focus on well-being ensures a stress-free and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for enhancing your work-life balance. The country Bhutan boasts reliable and high-speed internet services to ensure you stay connected to your work seamlessly. The awe-inspiring landscapes, lush green valleys, clean air and peaceful monasteries offer a serene backdrop that inspires creativity and productivity.
New Delhi, India
If you’re looking for a workation that will expose you to a significantly different way of life to the traditional digital nomad destinations, this city is spot on. Choosing New Delhi also comes with the benefit of being one of the most affordable capital cities in the world for both accommodation and food. Being as big as it is, it’s also incredibly easy to find co-working spaces.
Bengaluru, India
Bengaluru is one of India’s most progressive cities. Being a tech startups hub, there will be plenty of other workation travellers to connect with.
Kerala
Workation project is one of the contributions made to the tourism sector by COVID-19 pandemic. Through the pilot project in Wayanad district, it was possible to attract a large number of people from various places, including Bengaluru, to work in Kerala, according to the Public Works and Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas. The Kerala Tourism Department Corporation (KTDC) is preparing to make special arrangements at each tourist destination with requisite facilities, including the Internet, for those who desire to work while also travelling with family, friends, or alone, as per the minister while launching the program in Kerala. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the joint venture Workation project between the KTDC and Technopark was handed over to KTDC managing director Sikha Surendran and Electronics and Technology Parks – Kerala (Technopark) CEO Sanjeev Nair, in August 2023.
Whether you choose a European gem or an exotic paradise, the world is your oyster when it comes to workation destinations. The workation phenomenon definitely began as a way to get through the lockdown blues but now has blossomed into a legitimate travel fad. The workation wave is at apex, and it undoubtedly appears to be here to stay.