- Are you planning to work from the beach or abroad this summer? Email matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk
Millions of Britons are planning to ‘work on the beach’ this summer as they take advantage of policies that allow them to do their jobs while away from the office.
It is thought that more than six million people plan to use the flexibility to do their job while on holiday, with some seeing it as an opportunity to spend more time abroad than they otherwise would have.
However, people who jump at the chance to travel abroad and do their job at the same time may find themselves in trouble with their colleagues who are still working in the office.
Research has shown that one in five employees becomes frustrated when they discover that some of their colleagues are logging into virtual meetings from the beach or pool.
Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of employees have expressed concerns that workers working abroad are less productive than those still in the office.
The research, which was commissioned by price comparison website MoneySuperMarket, also found that a quarter of office workers said their colleagues abroad missed deadlines due to time differences.
The rise of work-from-home policies surged during the COVID pandemic, when lockdowns and self-isolation measures forced employers to allow people to work from home.
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Since then, many companies have kept these rules in place for fear that their staff would leave if they were forced to return to the office. A third of the UK workforce is now employed by companies that allow them to work from home.
The research into the work-from-anywhere policy made employees more likely to stay with their employers. A third of employees said it increased productivity, while a quarter of employees said it actually decreased productivity.
The boss of a marketing firm said she not only encourages her staff to work from home, but also encourages them to work abroad for at least one month a year.
Natasha Hatherall Shawe, whose company TishTash has offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and the UK, told The Times that she believes it is important for her employees to have the “freedom to work from anywhere”.
She told the publication: “If you don’t trust them to be productive regardless of location, then you shouldn’t have hired them in the first place.
‘Companies also need to adapt to changing work habits. I’ve found that our Gen Z team members in particular value the flexibility to work abroad, prioritize work-life balance and the opportunity to travel.’
Despite the apparent popularity of remote working, many employers are reluctant to embrace it, fearing it could lead to poor communication and a lack of teamwork.
A senior executive at MONY Group, which owns MoneySuperMarket, said that despite these concerns, the company also offers its staff the opportunity to work from abroad if they wish.
Lisa Townsend, Chief People Officer, said: “We move our team to a different location once or twice a year.
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“We know that some people use the time to experience new cultures or visit loved ones, while others find it helps them find a better work-life balance.”
However, some companies have decided to resist the rise of working from home.
Last year, Nationwide Building Society scrapped its work-from-anywhere policy and sent staff back to the office two days a week.
New CEO Debbie Crosbie said she wants her staff to work 40 percent of their full-time shifts in the office, a departure from her predecessor’s policy, which was introduced due to Covid.
In a pre-Christmas staff magazine, the company said: ‘The obligation to work from a Nationwide location has always been a contractual obligation.
‘The Association will monitor office access data to gain insight into site usage and identify non-compliance with minimum requirements.
“However, the association has assured us that such data will only be used to support discussions, and not as an absolute measure of compliance.”