You’re probably familiar with terms like ‘wokation’, ‘bleisure’ or ‘sabbatical leave ‘. But have you ever come across the term ‘hush trip?’. It’s a unique concept, not quite like the others. While it might sound unfamiliar, it’s a trend that’s been gaining popularity.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working has become the new normal. Remote working has given way to new working methods, such as workation and bleisure. It is now paving the way for a new phenomenon called the ‘hush travel phenomenon.’
So, what exactly is this phenomenon? Why is it gaining popularity? In this blog, we will help you understand what is a hush trip and its pros and cons.
Understanding the Hush Trip Phenomenon
A hush trip is a kind of remote working in which employees work remotely from different locations without informing their managers or colleagues. Over the past few years, employees have realized that work can be done more efficiently from any remote location.
It is a temporary means of working, where employees might simply work from the mountains, a beach house, or anywhere other than home. They may work in different time zones or from an international destination. While they can work efficiently and from anywhere, most employees often do not inform their colleagues or other employees about it.
According to Forbes, hush travel was one of the top travel trends 2023 and will continue to be so in 2024. One of the sole reasons employees opt for such means of working is to have a good work-life balance, reduce stress, and take advantage of their flexible work environment. And post-pandemic, there has been a sense of revenge travel among people. Employees are eager to go out and explore, especially the Millenials and Genz. With around 64% of employees in the US working remotely, there is no denying the fact that this phenomenon will be on the rise in 2024.
Suggested Read:
What is Revenge Travel?
Workation Vs. Hush Trip
After having understood what is a hush trip, you might be confused if it is similar to workation. Although the two concepts are similar, they are quite different. Let us help you understand the difference between the two:
Workation
The term ‘workation’ combines ‘work’ and ‘vacation.’ Workation is a concept where employees go to different locations and work from there remotely. In this case, the employers and managers are usually aware of their workation. However, employees might have to take prior permission from them before going on a workation.
Hush Trip
A hush travel is similar to a workation. The only difference here is that employees do not inform their colleagues or managers that they work from a different location. The reason for this is they are afraid of how they’ll be looked at by their company. Sometimes, they may not even get an approval for the same.
Suggested Read:
Workation: Everything You Need to Know
The Root Cause
According to research by CNBC, remote working has been gradually declining as companies want employees to work from the office. Over the last two years, 43% of companies have set tighter limits around remote work or mandated some form of return-to-office.
However, some offices have made working flexible by adopting a hybrid mode. This means that employees need to work from the office only for a few days, and for the remaining days, they will work remotely. However, working continuously from home and in the same environment has frustrated and anxious employees.
Therefore, many employees are taking hush trips. This is mainly because they are afraid of the impression the company may have on them. Are they actually working? Are they taking the job seriously enough? Will the HR approve them to work from these lesser-known destinations? etc.
Due to this trend, many hotels and AirBnBs worldwide also provide services such as free Wi-Fi, working tables, and comfortable rooms for working professionals. Hence, there has been a significant increase in employees in the US taking fewer vacation days or offs.
Pros and Cons of Taking Hush Trips
Every new trend has its own pros and cons. Let’s examine the pros and cons of hush travels as well.
Pros
- Hush travel has been found to increase productivity and reduce burnout. Employees can work peacefully and with full concentration from remote locations.
- They allow employees to work from beautiful and exotic locations. This allows them to feel more calm and less stressed while working.
- Many employees report feeling less anxious during such trips as they get a change of scenery without using their paid time off.
- These trips also enhance the quality of work. Employees can work more efficiently and produce better work results.
- Hush visits also allow employees to travel to offbeat locations during the off-season, saving them a lot of money and hassle.
Cons
- Employees may face issues while working from remote locations, such as bad weather or bad internet, which can impact the quality of work.
- Travel complications such as flight delays, late check-ins, or hotel overbookings can occur during hush trips, contributing to stress and anxiety.
- In case the company finds out about your trip, there may be chances that you will be subject to legal action or termination.
- During hush visits, there are chances that you may fall sick due to changes in weather and food. This can impact your productivity and quality of work.
Take Hush Trips Carefully
What is a hush trip is now no longer a buzzword. It has created a new way for employees to work remotely. While it has its own benefits and drawbacks, it helps employees have a good work-life balance and improves productivity. With so many employees working remotely, there is no doubt that this is a rising trend, and companies must be aware of it.
If you’re a business traveler who frequently goes on business trips and struggles always to book the right flight or hotel, itilite can help. The itilite corporate travel management software assists you in providing customized itineraries during your trip with round-the-clock travel support. You can also book personal trips through the platform.
To know more about itilite, contact us now!
