Australians are making the most of their new-found flexibility by working from holiday destinations without informing their employers, according to research into the trend of taking a ‘quiet vacation’.

More than one in 10 (12 per cent) of workers have worked remotely while on a holiday without telling their boss, while another 33 per cent would consider it, independent research by recruiter Robert Half found.

Nicole Gorton, director at Robert Half, said the increase in remote work since the Covid-19 pandemic has created a trend of “quiet vacationing”, where employees “take advantage of the flexibility of their job to work from holiday destinations without notifying their employers”.

“This trend underscores a significant shift in how work and personal life are blending in the modern workplace as workers seek ways to maximise their work-life harmony,” she said.

“While all employees deserve and need a holiday to fully recharge, combining work and personal life in this way without disclosing it to your employers can erode trust and lead to conflict.”

More than one in three (36 per cent) of employees said that their employers would likely do nothing if they found out about ‘quiet vacationing’, on the condition their work was completed, while 35 per cent said they would either suffer disciplinary action or have their employment terminated.

More than one in 10 Australians are taking a holiday while still working, without informing their employers. Photo: Getty

Lessons

Gorton said companies should analyse the motivations behind ‘quiet vacationing’ so that employees don’t feel the need to do it.

“By understanding employees’ reasons, employers can create more supportive and flexible work environments while also setting clear expectations and boundaries to avoid potential misconduct,” she said.

“As remote work continues to evolve, the concept of work and personal life is likely to become increasingly fluid. But at a time when more employers are calling staff back to the office, this will become more challenging given the new in-office requirements.

She said that employers and employees alike will need to navigate this landscape with a focus on trust, communication and mutual benefits.

About 53 per cent of those who had taken their work on holiday with them said they did because it made the most of work-from-home benefits, and 42 per cent said they did it to save money by not having to take unpaid leave.

Age divide

Just over half (55 per cent) of employees of all ages said they felt working at a holiday destination was something they wouldn’t consider, but the research showed a clear age divide between those who have done quiet vacationing and would consider it.

Generation Z was both more likely to have done quiet vacationing (17 per cent) and to consider doing it in the future (40 per cent), while 67 per cent of Baby Boomers said they would not consider doing it, compared to 56 per cent of Gen X and 53 per cent of Millennials.

Just over half (55 per cent) of employees of all ages said they felt working at a holiday destination was something they wouldn’t consider.