The Urban Dictionary defines a “workation” as anytime you bring work material, laptops, paperwork or keep meetings in an attempt to “keep up” during personal or vacation time. The secondary definition is when you have to take a trip for work and you escape your home and family life for a few days and it feels like a vacation. The Online Slang Dictionary defines it as a paid work trip that can be combined with aspects of taking a vacation.
Never heard of the term before? See how the popularity of a workation can work for you or your employees.
Planning To Work Remotely
There is a big difference between taking your work on vacation to finish up something before a deadline and planning to take your work on vacation. Having to take your work on vacation only ruins your vacation and often you don’t get paid for the time you are working. A workation is exactly what it sounds like. Rather than sitting in your office surrounded by four walls and mountains of distractions, a workation allows you to go to a vacation destination and take your work with you. You can still attend meetings remotely, make video calls and finish projects. You pay for your trip while getting paid to work at a new location. Sometimes a change of view is all you need to improve productivity, mindset and work product.
In another type of workation, some larger companies may send their employees to a vacation destination and offer seminars, trainings, conferences and other events in other cities or countries. Usually these companies see to it that the employees work during office hours, leaving evenings and weekends free for the employee to enjoy and explore the destination. Here the company pays for the trip as well as for the work the employee does while there.
But why would you want to take a workation instead of a regular vacation? And how would this work for you as a small business owner?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Workations
Like every work option, workations have their pros and cons. Let’s take a look at each of those before delving into how your small business can make this work for yourself or your employees.
Pros:
- A workation allows you to step out of your normal work/life routine and enjoy work and leisure at a distant location.
- It gives you flexibility and helps you maintain a good work/life balance, allowing you to spend quality time with family members during your off hours.
- You gain an experience of international communication and experience if you desire.
- Personal enjoyment along with work improves efficiency.
- A workation gives you a change of scenery without using precious vacation days.
- You get to enjoy a fun new place or spend time with far-off loved ones during your lunches, nights and weekends.
- You don’t have to deal with the stress of preparing for, missing and recovering from a week off work.
To see the disadvantages of a workcation and what it can mean for your small business, read the full story HERE in the Fall/Winter 2018 issue of Tools for Success magazine. You can also pick up a print copy of the magazine at a Progress Bank location near you. Click for a complete list of LOCATIONS.
