‘Working from Hols’ – where employees tag on remote working days at the start or end of a holiday to make the most of their time away – has taken off this year, with almost 2 in 5 (39%) UK workers having ‘WFH’ this year alone. This figure is set to rise as half (49%) are considering doing so next year, according to new data released by LinkedIn*, the world’s largest professional network.
This rising trend follows the upsurge of hybrid working, with many Brits embracing flexibility in the workplace and regularly working from home. The easing of travel restrictions post-pandemic across popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Italy has also contributed to the rise, as Brits look to extend their time abroad by combining a holiday with remote working.
Making waves amongst the younger generation, the trend has become increasingly popular amongst 18 – 24 year-olds, with twice as many Gen Z’s (33%) having worked remotely abroad before or after a holiday in 2022 when compared to those aged 55 and over (15%).
Work-life balance remains a priority for younger workers too, as nearly a quarter (24%) of 18 – 24 year-olds would be more likely to apply for a job that offers the option of complete remote working, including working abroad.
More than a third (38%) of UK workers who are able to work remotely say that ‘Working from Hols’ helps to improve their mental wellbeing, and 28% added it helped to make them feel more positively about their workplace. As a result, over a third (36%) say it helps to improve work-life balance, while one in five (20%) have been galvanised to be more productive.
Meanwhile, 26% would consider working remotely during the week in a holiday home (either abroad or in the UK) rather than taking annual leave.
To help people consider where to ‘WFH‘, LinkedIn has teamed up with Airbnb to showcase the company’s Live and Work Anywhere initiative and spotlight some of the destinations they are partnering with that embrace remote work, including:
- Cape Town, South Africa,
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Brindisi, Puglia, Italy
- Bali, Indonesia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Palm Spring, California
- Queensland, Australia
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Salzkammergut, Austria
In Q2 2022, long-term stays of 28 days or more remained Airbnb’s fastest-growing category by trip length compared to 2019. Long-term stays increased nearly 25% from a year ago and by almost 90% from Q2 2019. Data from Airbnb also shows that long-term stays have increased by a third in the UK alone.
While there are many advantages to a hybrid work/holiday set up, more than a quarter (27%) of British workers are worried about blurring the lines between work and time off, stopping them from switching off when on holiday, while 11% said they were too scared to ask their boss for permission to work remotely abroad. Poor Wi-Fi (24%), childcare (18%) and navigating time zones (17%) were also listed as the top reasons putting Brits off the idea of ‘Working from Hols’. This is despite a third (33%) saying they’d benefit from freedom over their working hours.
