19 million employees want to go on workation

Already every third employer since the outbreak of the pandemic admits that the greatest benefit offered to employees is flexibility in the place and time of performing duties - according to the "Polish Labor Market Barometer" of the Personnel Service. Employees willingly use this option. A report published by MBO Partners shows that workation, i.e. a combination of work and vacation, is currently used by approximately 10 million Americans. This trend is also gaining popularity in Poland. Not all employers are favorable to this solution, but as Personnel Service experts predict, workation, like remote work, will also stay with us after the pandemic has passed. Therefore, it is necessary to think about the legal issues and safety of such a solution.

Workation has gained popularity during the pandemic. Employees who have been forcibly sent to the home office, instead of sitting in their own four walls, organize a longer trip abroad and work at the same time. Due to the pandemic, this solution partially changed its character. Previously, it was available mainly to freelancers and companies that sent their entire teams to workation as part of a paid delegation. Currently, this option is at the fingertips of anyone who works remotely as a result of restrictions. This trend, translated into Polish reality, is confirmed by Grant Thornton's research, according to which 75 percent of employees would like to work in this way.

“Employees want to take advantage of the opportunities offered to them by developing technology. Even now, a year after sending employees to the home office, no one is surprised by remote meetings, weekly statuses sent by e-mail or teleconferences. We have adapted to the pandemic reality, and now we want to diversify it, especially since the vast majority of tasks can be performed remotely from anywhere in the world. And the vision of working from a country with better weather and interesting leisure activities is attractive. Especially after many months of closure,” Krzysztof Inglot, President of the Management Board of Personnel Service, said.

It might seem that "working under palm trees", as long as we have access to high-speed internet, has no disadvantages – the warm climate or a walk on the beach during the lunch break sound positive. However, the reality, especially from the legal point of view, is not so colorful.

(WBJ)