More Brits want to mix business with pleasure

The opportunity to “Work from Anywhere” (WFA) is claimed to deliver a healthier work life balance; personal and professional growth and, for business, better employee retention. A new survey suggests that the appeal of this work trend is growing and business owners offering these opportunities will benefit.

According to a survey of 12,184 adults in nine countries worldwide, including the UK, Work from Anywhere policies are becoming a want for many; and even a factor for some in selecting a new role.

The report was commissioned by hotel brand Crowne Plaza, which worked with YouGov. It found that more two-thirds of US and UK travellers actively combine business trips with personal leisure time. This was up from just over half in 2022 when the company published its first white paper on blended travel – or Work Remotely Anywhere (WRA) – trends.

WRA as a perk

In fact, employees see WRA as a huge benefit. The survey revealed that 23% of Brits see extended trips “at a lower personal cost” as a key benefit to their role. This means that offering WRA opportunities for employees could be a powerful tool for businesses hoping to recruit and retain top talent.

The survey reveals that some businesses are already taking action. The team found that 36% of companies with full-time office-based policies are planning to transition to a WFA model. They follow multinationals including Airbnb, Spotify, Dropbox and Shopify, who have transitioned to models that embrace flexibility.

Interestingly, the report also put WRA up against the four-day work week; and found that more were in favour of the latter though there was only an 8% difference.

What are the benefits of WRA?

Well there are proved benefits for both employees and businesses. There are claims being made for improved productivity but this is also, incidentally, being claimed for RTO policies. This style of working also has an impact on employees’ work/life balance therefore their mental health. And this translates to a positive company culture.

For businesses, it could become a perk that will bring in fresh talent. The survey records that 72% of respondents agree WRA is beneficial so it is a trend that is on many radars.

One of many flexible working models

We would add that there are other flexible working models that are also gaining popularity, even at a time when some companies are putting strict RTO mandates in place.

The options vary from remote work, which doesn’t usually include the opportunity to work from another country, through to being a digital nomad, where you can work from anywhere. A new poll from PublicFirst suggests that 7% of the adult population consider themselves “very likely to work as a digital nomad over the next three years”. The poll adds that around 165,000 British citizens live and work abroad as digital nomads already and are spending an average of seven months a year overseas.

The caveats

There are, however, potential downsides to WRA, like all of the flexible working models. For businesses, there are the logistics to consider of managing a workforce spread of different locations. This could mean different time zones, for example. There also might be security concerns dependent on the nature of the business.

For employees, as one of our own writers shared, there is the danger that WRA translates to working constantly. Working from home can blur the boundaries between work time and home time; and WFA could see this replicated, just in a different location. There is also the possibility of friction between staff if some can WRA and others can’t.

However, as Ginger Taggart, Vice President of Brand Management – Global Premium Brands, IHG Hotels & Resorts, says: “Flexibility in where and when people work is now an expectation for today’s professionals.” Expectations are shifting. There are options and businesses need to find a model that fits their needs.