Is Workation a model for the future?

avitea.deexperts.avitea.deUntil now, this image has only been associated with solo self-employed people, freelancers and so-called digital nomads. But now it is also becoming a reality for ordinary employees. Workation - a combination of the terms work and vacation - is making its way into everyday working life.  

A combination of work and vacation? At first glance, this might make some people wonder. After all, the terms work and vacation don't really go together. What exactly is workation? With workation, the employee relocates his or her home office to the sea, the mountains or another vacation spot - far away from his or her actual place of residence. After consultation with the employer, the employee can work from a vacation home or hotel.

Workation - Trend or Future?

Developments in recent years have led to a shift in the world of work. After many employees returned to their employer's offices following the pandemic-related home office phase, around a quarter of employees still stay at home to work for an indefinite period. Flexible choice of work location creates new opportunities: An improved situation for families and childcare; the chance to find your dream job regardless of where you live; or the option to move to the countryside without having to put up with long commutes to the office.

The pandemic also gave the workation trend a real boost. Freelancers who work independently of time and place have long had the option of traveling to the sun with their laptops and working on the beach. But since mobile working has also become an issue for employees, more and more hotels and travel providers are seizing the opportunity and introducing a wide range of workation offers. An office in the hotel is no longer a utopia. For a surcharge, hotels provide office chairs, monitors and other technical equipment, as well as meeting rooms. Particularly attractive for families: Some travel providers also offer all-day childcare in the hotel.

Improved work-life balance through Workation

A Workation promises a lot: more time with the family, inspiration through varied places and trips, relaxation in everyday life. For those who manage to focus on work despite the sound of the sea outside the door and the tempting sandy beaches, Workation could be a good model. An attractive environment can not only be conducive to inspiration, but also promote relaxation before and after work.

Employers also stand to gain. Workation favors higher productivity and employee satisfaction. The employees' balance usually increases. Employees often feel that they can recharge their batteries more quickly during a workation. Workation can also be used as an employer branding strategy. If the employer enables its employees to work independently of location, the employee's loyalty to the company can be improved. Such a perspective attracts  especially young and highly qualified workers.

Workation for more inspiration and energy in the workday

Conclusion: A workstation can be the right choice, especially for a limited period of time. If you are considering a work assignment, there are a few essential things to keep in mind. Consultation with the employer before the start of the trip - especially if it is to be abroad - is essential. Mobile working must be expressly permitted for the planned time and place. In addition, the relocation of the place of work abroad may only take place for a limited period of time, as this may have consequences for tax and social, health and, for example, accident insurance. Germany does not have a social security agreement with every country. In addition, it must be ensured that the chosen vacation and work location meets the right requirements for home office. This includes sufficient space for a well-equipped workplace, quiet during working hours and good Internet quality. After all, even in a workstation, working hours and accessibility must be maintained. As a rule, these conditions are laid down in a supplementary agreement between the employee and the employer. Residency issues such as residence permits, work permits and other registration requirements must also be clarified.

A workstation needs to be well planned. But if all the prerequisites are sufficiently illuminated and the legal conditions are met, the workation offers employees opportunities for inspiration, relaxation and an improved work-life balance. For employers, a strengthened emotional bond between the employee and the company also comes into play. Workation thus has the potential to become a real model for the future.