The Hush Trip Explained (And Could You Get Away With It?)
As remote working has skyrocketed in popularity in workplaces worldwide, so has the secretive world of hush trips. Never heard of this term? Let's shed some light on what this is and why you might want to get familiar with the ins and outs of it before planning your next vacation. In short, a hush trip is a trip an employee might take while remote working without letting their boss know about their whereabouts. This could be as simple as visiting your family in a neighboring state or chilling poolside in Bali.
As long as you have a strong Wi-Fi signal and an unassuming Zoom background, people are usually none the wiser. If you're getting your work done and are able to enjoy some R&R during the other eight hours you're awake, why not try it? Well, despite this practice seeming pretty harmless, some employers are none too happy to find out their employees are not (literally) working from home.
Why more people are taking hush trips
First, let's address the obvious elephant in the room. Why are more people taking hush trips? Because working from home all the time kinda blows. Yes, yes, some people are homebodies who don't mind spending their days in their comfy abode or are creatures of habit. But wouldn't doing expense reports and having your third meeting of the day be a lot more fun while sitting in a cozy cabin in the Romanian wilderness? Or listening to the waves gently lapping on a white sandy beach in Jamaica?
Maybe we're a little biased here, but that sounds pretty awesome! But it's not just us — lots of remote-working employees today seem to agree. RVshare noted in their 2023 Travel Trend Report that 56% of workers would be very likely to participate in a hush trip, with 36% of Gen X and Millennials saying they already have plans for one in the works.
This is not just because workations are fun. They can make us more productive, too! Being in a more relaxed environment where you feel at ease and can escape that pesky seasonal depression might be just what the doctor ordered, especially when it comes to your productivity. However, even though there can be many pluses to taking your work on vacation, your employer may not agree (hence why they're called "hush trips"). So, how do you avoid ruffling any professional feathers, and should you in the first place?
How you could get away with it (and should you?)
The question of should or shouldn't is really going to come down to personal choice. Your employer has their reasons, as it can land them in tax and legal hot water. However, you could take the what-they-don't-know-can't-hurt-them route and use some common sense. If you're just headed to your in-laws in Miami for a couple of weeks, you'll be fine. Things get a bit more complicated if you're going abroad or working from another state for an extended period. If you're using a company-issued laptop and have a robust IT department, you'll need to consult another forum, as circumventing your company's monitoring software can be legally dubious territory.
If all of that doesn't worry you and you're ready to get your "hush" on, here's what to do. First of all, wherever you go, make sure you have a solid Wi-Fi connection. There's nothing more telling than going from a stable internet connection to suddenly having issues joining your daily meetings. Second, only travel outside of work hours, and (as painful as it might be) don't post on your social media. Finally, make sure to use a Zoom background for all your meetings. Pro tip: if you don't already use one (which you should be anyway), start using it in the weeks leading up to your trip so you don't raise suspicion!