In recent years, there has been an increase in remote working, which, in turn, has created a rise in shorter employee vacations. In the past, employees often opted for extended weeks of vacation time so they could get away from the office and spend some much-needed time at home.
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However, with the new work-from-home trends, people are already getting the at-home time they desire, so they’re not taking the extra couch days of vacation. This has started to popularize the idea of short business vacations, aka “bizcations” or “bleisure,” during which employees turn their company-sponsored business trip into a mini vacation. Many employers are finding that their employees are already used to working in nonoffice settings, so working while traveling is not much of a change.
These short “bizcations” can be great for an employee’s mental health and willingness to work hard to earn similar opportunities. On the other hand, employers must now decide when to award these bizcations and determine how to get the most out of their employees while they travel.
When to Approve a Bizcation Request
If you’re an employer that understands its employee’s desire to take a small break after a few days of hard work and traveling, then you should be able to set them up for success and know when to approve their travel. Your employees should also be aware that because of the nature of their request, they must be able to balance their work and afford any personal expenses while bizcationing.
If you would just like to allow your employees some light free time on their work-related vacations, then you should aim to set your meetings on the Friday and Monday of the trips. This will give them a day to sightsee and hit some local spots for food and entertainment.
You will also want to consider where your employees are traveling when they send in their request and schedule. If your employees are heading somewhere with higher travel rates, then you might think about booking their flights during off-peak weekdays.
You can also advise your employees to break up their stay with vacation days to maximize the trip. For example, you can schedule your employees’ meetings Monday through Wednesday and encourage them to use vacation days for the remainder of the week so they can extend their stay through the weekend.
Talking Bizcation with Your Employees
As an employer, it’s important you recognize the benefits of giving your employees breaks and time off. Encouraging employees to take daily breaks and time away from work significantly improves work and health.
When you address your employees, be sure they know that you strive to find balance between productivity and a healthy home life. If your employees know you care about their overall health and well-being, then they will be more than willing to work out reasonable accommodations.
For more ways on getting the most out of your employees’ bizcations, try some of these tips:
- Prioritize employee self-care.
- Set realistic goals and expectations.
- Make a note to disconnect from work.
- Stick to one travel destination.
- Network with business acquaintances.
- Change of scenery.
- Account for time changes.
- Make possible upgrades.
And be sure to check out the infographic below!
| Janey Velasco is a Content Marketing Specialist at Siege Media. She enjoys writing on a variety of topics, including travel, career, and lifestyle. In her free time, she’s usually trying out a new coffee shop or planning her next trip. |
Image courtesy of https://www.carrentals.com/blog/.
