Hush trips are a growing trend with remote workers that allows them to travel to new areas while keeping their employers unaware of their location. Remote work is becoming more established in the workplace and because of that, many workers are taking advantage of their flexible schedules to travel to new areas – without officially requesting any time off.
Why are hush trips a trend? What are the risks and rewards of this kind of travel?
What Are Hush Trips?
A hush trip occurs when a remote worker travels to a new destination and does not inform their manager or employer. In comparison to workations where employees openly work remotely from another location, a hush trip means they will maintain the look and feel of working from their usual office or workspace.
Whether it is a beach Airbnb in Bali or a cozy café in Paris, hush trips enable remote employees to travel while maintaining work, and will not raise any suspicion from their boss.
What Is Driving the Hush Trip Trend?
Several of these factors have contributed to the increase in hush trip
- Expanded Work-from-Anywhere Opportunities: Since remote work has become the norm, employees aren’t confined to their office desks any longer. As long as workers meet deadlines and attend virtual meetings, it is ultimately irrelevant where they are working and this makes hush trips possible.
- Desiring a Change of Scenery: After years of working from home, many remote workers are ready for something new. Hush trips create an interim and change of pace, without the hassle of cutting into productive work.
- Companies with Strict Travel Policies: Some companies have restrictions on where workers are allowed to work remotely for tax or security reasons in some cases. Hush trips deliver a clever way for employees to bypass these regulations.
- Concern about Upsetting the Company: Not all employers are comfortable with their employee working in another country, or time zone. To avoid unnecessary attention, many remote workers decide to keep their travel plans a secret.
The Thrill of Hush Trips For many, the simple act of planning and executing a secret trip is the very best part of the experience. There is a wonderful sense of adventure in keeping the destination a hushed secret.
The Risks and Challenges of Hush Trips
Though such hush trips can be enjoyable and satisfying, they present some inherent risks.
Time Zone Differences
One of the major challenges of hush trips is managing time differences. If an employee is traveling from New York to Dubai, for example, he or she will have to adjust the schedule to make themselves available during business hours.
Internet and Connectivity Issues
Reliable Wi-Fi is critical for remote employees. If an employee has unreliable internet, that can disrupt virtual meetings, and evoke questions about their actual whereabouts.
Visa and Immigration Issues
Traveling to a country for work may involve visas (or not). If someone takes a hush trip, for example, to the UAE, they must consider the travel visa UAE rules. Many countries have strict rules about working in their countries on a visa, and violating visa conditions can cause legal complications.
Organizational IT Policies
Some organizations track employee IP addresses or require an employee to sign in from a certain location. If an employee signs in from a different country without notice, it may raise some flags.
Difficulty Balancing Work and Life
Hush travel creates a grey area between work and downtime – as exciting as it may be to tour a new location, juggling tourist activities with work can be overwhelming.
How to Create a Successful Hush Trip
If you are considering a hush trip, here are some ways to ensure things go smoothly:
Choose the Right Location
Your location should be aligned with your work schedule. Make sure the time difference does not affect meetings and deadlines.
Ensure Reliable Wi-Fi
Book accommodations that provide fast Wi-Fi or travel with a portable mobile hotspot to prevent issues.
Be Conscious of Backgrounds and Background Noise
If you are on a video call, look professional in appearance and minimize any distractions in the background. Utilizing a virtual background can help maintain privacy.
Make The Most Of Your Time
Plan your work hours wisely to balance productivity and travel. Prioritize your tasks to avoid stress at the last minute.
Stay Within Legal Requirements
Check visa requirements ahead of time. If a location requires you to obtain a work visa in order to work remotely, be sure to follow the requirements and stay within the law.
Avoid Sharing Social Media
If you have a habit of sharing travel photos in the moment, your location may be exposed. To maintain privacy, share once you return from your trip.
The Future of Hush Travel Trips
As remote work continues, hush travel trips will continue to grow. Some companies may respond to the changing norm by establishing more flexible travel policies, while others may begin to develop tracking policies to keep their employees honest. As is the case here, hush travel trips ultimately exemplify a desire to find freedom from work life. Regardless of whether employers embrace or discourage these practices, remote workers will seek out new ways to blend work and travel.
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