Certain buzzwords keep cropping up in the cosmos surrounding the topic of New Work. These include workation, a term made up of the words work and vacation. It describes the situation of working from a completely different (vacation) location for a limited period of time.
A recent survey shows that many young people attach great importance to flexible working models. For example, 42% of respondents under the age of 35 state that the option to work remotely is a decisive factor when choosing an employer (survey by Cisco in collaboration with "Yougov", July 2023). However, approval decreases with increasing age. Among employees aged between 34 and 44, the figure is still 28%, and only 15% among those over 45.
This fits in with the current trends on the job market. Especially in the younger generation, the so-called Gen Z, the standards of what a job should offer are changing. Factors such as flexible working hours, corporate culture and personal fulfillment are now very popular. The topic of sustainability is also gaining in importance.
As a result, companies need to meet these demands in order to remain attractive to young professionals. The option of a workation can be a useful tool here to set yourself apart from the competition.
Positive effects
The sense and purpose can and should certainly be questioned. However, the high demand shows the urgency of seriously addressing these issues. It therefore makes much more sense to approach the matter with an open mind and focus on the positive effects. In addition to the aforementioned attractiveness for young employees, it can lead to increased employee satisfaction. It can also lead to a better basis of trust between the company and its employees. Last but not least, openness towards flexible working models demonstrates a high level of appreciation towards employees.
The right framework conditions
To put a workation into practice, you need the right organizational and legal framework. This includes questions about employment law, social security and tax circumstances, for example. Equally important are questions relating to internal organization such as accessibility (keyword: time difference) and the costs of the stay. Ideally, the company should create the right framework conditions so that everyone has the same level of knowledge from the outset.
Initial experiences and results from surveys show that a workation can have numerous positive effects. For example, employees surveyed reported better productivity, greater balance and increased creativity. Stress reduction is also one of the positive effects.
As part of the transformation process of the New Work movement, Workation is an excellent opportunity both to inspire new talent from Gen Z and to offer exciting benefits to existing employees.
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