Mark Dixon | CEO | Founder | International Workplace Group (IWG) | mail me |
For many companies and their teams, the new era of ‘work from anywhere’ offers professionals unprecedented location flexibility. Families can travel more easily because work can now be managed alongside holidays. Professionals can balance work and family trips without rushing or postponing plans.
Workcations, where travellers combine work and leisure at their destinations to extend holidays, have exploded in popularity since hybrid working became the norm for many. Embracing workcations allows employees to maintain focus while enjoying travel flexibility.
Productivity and employee wellbeing
Recent research revealed the rising popularity of workcations among white-collar office workers. Specifically, 78% of surveyed workers view a ‘work from anywhere’ policy as a significant factor when considering a new job.
Among hybrid workers, 87% say this flexibility boosts their productivity. Additionally, 85% report reduced burnout, and 87% note improved work-life balance due to remote work options.
Adopting flexible workspaces as part of a hybrid approach can significantly increase productivity. This insight comes from the latest IWG Hybrid Working Productivity Report, produced with global consultancy Arup.
A workspace in a convenient location allows people to work closer to where they are – whether at home or on a workcation. By improving their work-life balance, people can spend more time with family and friends while remaining productive, no matter where they work. Happy employees are productive employees.
Employee retention and flexible networks
Workplace flexibility also proves essential for employee retention. Flexible arrangements can reduce voluntary turnover by up to 20%. Employees are three times more likely to stay in roles that offer a range of working options.
With this in mind, we added 899 new centres to its network in 2024 alone. These include the world’s leading workcation cities and smaller, undiscovered gems. Professionals now have the freedom to work from a convenient office wherever they are, fully embracing workcations.
The global shift toward remote flexibility
We’re seeing more workers than ever extending trips to work remotely or spending longer periods abroad as digital nomads.
Thanks to hybrid working and cloud technology, employees can work wherever and whenever suits them best. This could be a local flexible workspace or a co-working centre on the other side of the world. For many, the days of long daily commutes are over. They now enjoy more freedom to work in new locations. This trend is here to stay.
Many companies are adopting flexible working and WFA policies, especially during holiday periods. These policies are being implemented for the long term because they improve work-life balance, reduce burnout and deliver significant productivity gains.
In fact, our recent report, in collaboration with Arup, shows that empowering employees to use local workspaces and offices as part of their work location strategy could boost productivity by 11% over the next five years. This makes it a clear win-win for both employees and employers in the global battle for talent.
South Africa – poised as a Workcation Destination
Workcations offer a win-win for both individuals and destinations. Professionals enjoy a refreshing change of scenery, which improves work-life balance and boosts productivity. Destinations benefit from increased tourism revenue and longer visitor stays. This injects vibrancy into local communities through interactions with remote workers.
Hybrid work is growing, and South Africa is poised to become a leading workcation destination. The country’s diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures and improving infrastructure offer digital nomads, remote workers and local professionals the perfect blend of work and play.
