‘Hush trips’ – secretly going to work remotely – are a travel trend. Their pros and cons, and how to stop your boss finding out

We’ve heard of workations, but how about jetting off for remote work without your employer knowing? ‘Hush’ trips are a growing travel trend with pros and cons

Experts explain how working from elsewhere can benefit and hinder us, and how to avoid your employer finding out where you are and penalising you

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“Hush trips” – secretly going to work remotely – are a hot travel trend, but there are pros and cons to them. And what if your boss finds out? Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15am, 2 Nov 2023Updated: 5:00am, 2 Nov 2023

You’ve probably heard of “workations” that combine work travel with leisure trips, often in desirable locations. But there’s a new twist on this trend: the “hush trip”, in which employees don’t tell their bosses they’re actually working from holiday locales.

These secret getaways by remote workers while on the clock seem to be gaining in popularity and frequency, although many companies frown upon this activity.

A hush trip can be defined as an excursion where an employee works remotely, usually in a holiday spot, without disclosing to their boss or colleagues where they’re temporarily located, according to Vicki Salemi, a career expert with employment website Monster.

“Hush trips are growing more popular because more workers see opportunities to work remotely in places other than their homes,” she says.

“Hush trips” are becoming more popular as employees are seeing benefits in working somewhere other than at home or the office. Photo: Shutterstock

Joshua Bienstock, an associate professor at New York Institute of Technology’s School of Management and a practising employment and labour lawyer, says he understands why hush trips have become more common.