Learn more about traveling for work and the workation trend
After the global pandemic in 2020, many companies learned to adapt to home office and discovered new work models that provide greater freedom of location for their employees. After all, certain activities can be carried out without the employee being present, saving time and travel.
For a long time, “business travel” was a limited resource, only allowed to great leaders, and the so-called workation was completely inaccessible. To understand a little more about this change and how to be part of this professional trend, continue reading!
What is business travel?
Even though some people who are more accustomed to more traditional work models consider traveling just a form of leisure, a business trip is just as serious as a normal workday. The travel of an employee or a manager with the aim of completing tasks and activities aimed at the company and its growth is a business trip that can bring several benefits, such as networking , training and employee development.
It is important to remember that these trips not only contribute directly to external growth, but also to the internal strengthening of the company. After all, by sending your employee, you are investing in their professional development.
How to plan work trips?
To plan travel logistics such as tickets, accommodation, transportation and even how to best enjoy the experience, there must be a very clear agreement between human resources and the employee.
According to the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), when an employee travels for work, this travel period must be counted as part of the working day, as it goes beyond the traditional commute to the company.
Here, transportation expenses, such as air, bus or train tickets, must also be covered by the organization, as well as accommodation, ensuring adequate living conditions and on-site expenses, such as ride-hailing or car rental. It is important to mention that, except in cases where the daily working hours are exceeded, overtime is not paid .
Taking into account the hours you will be working, the company may also offer daily allowances to cover food and other small expenses. These costs should not be deducted from the employee’s salary, but should be discussed in detail to avoid logistical problems.
Once you have established these limits, you can plan what to do in your free time during your trip, remembering that the focus is on work! Prioritize your duties, after all, it is a business trip. Once you are free from your activities, you will be free to visit restaurants or museums, always keeping in mind that this part of your leisure time must come out of your own pocket.
Tips for networking while traveling
When traveling for work, you may feel nervous, after all, your role is to represent the company to new people. Therefore, we have put together some important tips to help you avoid mistakes during this important time of traveling for work.
1. Prepare according to the schedule
Before embarking on a business trip, do your research and pay attention to what you will need to do, and study the conferences or meetings you will be attending. Bring business cards and practice what you will need to do and how to talk to people.
2. Be proactive and interact with others
Be lively, friendly and proactive. Interpersonal relationships are extremely important in these situations. Show interest and always think about what your company’s position would be in that situation. Take advantage of informal moments, as they are relaxed occasions, which facilitate the creation of bonds.
3. Be open to learning new things
It is crucial to have an open mind about the culture you are visiting. Nothing could be more different in the world of business. To maximize networking chances, embrace regional variations and be open to learning and adapting. Create new relationships and keep in touch with them via emails or sporadic messages.
Beyond business travel: what is workation?
“Workation” is a combination of the English terms “work” and “vacation”, which mean “work” and “holiday”. It is basically a practice where a person works remotely while traveling or away from the traditional environment. It is a benefit offered to combine work with leisure time , taking advantage of the flexibility provided by remote work — teleworking or “home office”.
Advantages and disadvantages of workation
Although it is not included in the CLT, the workation trend has become more popular, since if the employee can reconcile his duties and responsibilities in different workplaces, there is no reason for him not to do so. Therefore, the benefits include:
- Greater flexibility and motivation : during workation, the employee gains greater flexibility, after all, they can carry out tasks in different, more dynamic and, sometimes, even more welcoming places, which also brings more dynamism to the work;
- Differentiated environment : instead of working from home or the office, the employee can be on a beach, mountain or any other place that offers a pleasant experience.
Regarding the drawbacks, we may list the following:
- Reduced productivity : Sometimes, being in a new place, the employee may have difficulty connecting to work amid distractions, which can affect concentration and productivity;
- Difficulty separating leisure time from work : the line between work and leisure time can become blurred with different time zones, and the stresses of the job can interfere with leisure time and make you feel exhausted or like you’re never fully on vacation.
How to build a career that allows you to travel?
You should think about job openings for those who love to travel and always be on the lookout for opportunities. Some interesting options are: travel consultant, tour guide , internationalist, travel photographers and writers, videographers and other professions.
Furthermore, with the increasing flexibility in the job market and the expansion of home office, it is easier to find professions and careers that allow you to explore the world while building your professional career, especially those that only require a computer as a work tool.