Management Perspectives

Visualise yourself waking up to a picturesque, calm, serene waterfall through your window or a panoramic view of snow-clad mountains or foaming waves draping the golden-yellow sands of a beach or melodious chirping of birds in a lush green forest every-morning. What if you get to savour all of these captivating experiences whilst you are at work? Just having a teleworking opportunity, steady wi-fi connectivity, and a portable workstation can make this possible.

Workcation’ or working vacation is gaining popularity amongst many who love to travel and can manage work and vacationing simultaneously. So, Jaziel who loves to travel chooses to work from Rishikesh, the ‘Yoga capital of the world’ and the ‘Gateway to Garhwal Himalayas’. On weekdays, during office hours, she works from the comfort of her room, and after work, she meets people from local community, tries local cuisines, attends yoga camps, and visits nearby places. On the weekends, she plans adventure sports including river-rafting, bungee jumping, short trips, and hikes.

Wanderlust workaholics
For people who love to travel while working, the current times are an opportune moment, as most corporate entities are advancing teleworking opportunities owing to the current COVID-19 situation. This rejuvenating experience— exploring different places, cultures, and cuisine with family and friends—motivates one to stay focussed and physically and mentally fit, and thereby, be more productive at work.

In economics, opportunity cost is the cost of the next best alternative foregone. Opportunity costs of investing money in shares would be the amount that could have been invested in risk-free assets at a fixed interest rate. Similarly, opportunity cost of stay during workcation is the amount of rent saved on residence. Thus, from an employer’s perspective, if you are sponsoring a part of the workcation expenses, the opportunity cost is the amount saved on house rent allowances of those employees.

Several teleworkers have experienced musculoskeletal issues such as back and neck pain; many have also reported mental health issues. All this is due to prolonged hours of sitting at the work desk, not getting the opportunity to go for walks, do stretching exercises, not socialising, and so on. Workcation can provide relief from such confinement and its repercussions.

Organisations can promote team spirit by sending members on a workcation together. This can help increase cohesivity amongst the team members and also can serve as a platform to foster trust. These retreats with co-workers can also facilitate knowledge exchange and discussions regarding innovative solutions to work related problems.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown that followed impacted workers’ productivity, creativity, and innovative thinking as they were mostly confined to their homes, with the feeling of isolation, seclusion, and the fear of the unknown. A workcation can change this as it will help relax one’s mind through the change of ‘scenery’ it provides for. Meditating in a peaceful environment, taking a dip in a river or sea, mixing with locals, learning about their cultures, cuisines, and customs, and participating in their festivals can provide a new perspective and further expand one’s thinking, thereby adding to creativity and productivity.