Since the onset of the pandemic, many office workers have learned that being physically present in one workplace is not a requirement for all jobs.
Even as offices reopened, countless employees continued to work from home or from different locations. This has not only changed the way people work, but also the way they travel. Enter “Hush Trip.”
But what exactly is quiet travel and how does it work? Below, experts break down the pros and cons of this approach to travel.
What is a “hash trip”?
“A ‘hush trip’ is when an employee works remotely from an unusual location without informing their employer,” said travel blogger Sean Lau.
This is a temporary setup where employees work for a few days at a beach house an hour away from their homes. Or maybe you travel to another time zone or abroad.
“The idea is that if you happen to be in the Bahamas at work, you don’t have to bring that up to your employer because you can log on and do your job from anywhere,” said travel blogger Esther Soosag.
Hashtrippers typically continue to work and participate in Zoom meetings, but do not mention their whereabouts. They work in hotel rooms, coffee shops, and even short-term coworking spaces.
“They may even go so far as to use a VPN to spoof their IP address and location,” says Gabby Beckford, travel expert and founder of travel site Packs Light.
This concept is similar to “bleisure travel,” which combines business and leisure travel. Leisure travelers may go on work-related trips, but they also spend extra time on vacation before and after. You may also work remotely from your destination in between relaxing or sightseeing activities.
On quiet or leisure trips, employees often bring friends and family with them, but they may also travel alone.
“This is an experience that has been woven into the lifestyle of digital nomads and remote workers since the dawn of connectivity,” said Eric Prince, travel blogger and founder of the travel site Minority Nomad. “And now the wider travel world is getting a taste of it. But like any cuisine, this trend comes with a unique blend of flavors that are both fun and challenging.”
Taiyo Nomachi via Getty Images
This travel trend also has some downsides.
What are the benefits of this type of travel?
“As someone who works remotely and prefers to work in scenic locations, quiet travel can increase productivity, improve mental well-being, and ultimately increase employee retention. I think so,” Lau said.
Proponents of clandestine travel believe that this type of travel is a much-needed boost to worker morale and quality of life.
“You can avoid the stress of explaining the reason for your trip to your boss and getting company approval, and the possibility of getting a ‘no,'” Beckford says.
Hash travel allows for a degree of spontaneity and travel flexibility (which allows employees to take advantage of a variety of benefits).
“You can wake up one morning and decide, ‘I feel like working with an ocean view this week,’ and hop on a plane that afternoon without sending a PTO request. Embrace the digital nomad lifestyle. It’s just that,” Susag says. .
Since 2020, many industries are rethinking their approach to working environments. This quiet trip is a perfect escape from the traditional “desk-bound life,” Prince noted. Balances structure and independence.
“This is a passport to freedom, a chance to roam, explore and bring both personal and professional endeavors to life in ways unimaginable within the confines of traditional office culture,” he explained. “It’s about fighting the constant fear of burnout and reclaiming the right to truly live, rather than simply exist in harsh conditions.”
Are there any drawbacks?
“There are risks in shutting down travel, especially if you’re going to a place where internet connectivity is spotty or in vastly different time zones,” Lau said.
You may run into issues with your employer that could threaten your future with the company.
“This shows a lack of trust between employer and employee, and calling that employee into the office at the last minute would cause problems,” Beckford said.
In addition to decreased trust, administrative concerns can also arise, especially when converting short-term secret trips to longer stays.
“HR teams already have a hard time tracking the locations of remote workers,” Soosag said. “Intense travel makes that borderline impossible and can create all sorts of potential tax, privacy and legal issues depending on where people are working from without notice. For many, quiet travel symbolizes the freedom of remote work. But for employers, I don’t think they see them the same way.”
Prince echoed this sentiment, pointing to visa and tax implications, network security risks, and potential disruption to workflows. But he and other travel experts who spoke to HuffPost said a quieter travel lifestyle is fine as long as employees are consistently on time.
“Certain challenges have led many companies to ‘ban’ clandestine travel,” he said. “But just as we reluctantly returned to offices after the pandemic, the economics of returning to brick-and-mortar work may be unfavorable for many.”
