Vacation or ´hush-cation´ - what have you recently returned from

Hush vacation, 'hush-cation' or hush-hush holiday, secret holiday - a new American concept is quietly creeping in and spreading to the rest of the global, hybrid labour market:

Hybrid working employees who see their cut to list the PC out of the home and on a preferably shorter holiday break - two to three days or a week without reporting it as an official holiday.

A hush-cation is, in short, when an employee chooses to take a vacation break without informing their employer or officially requesting time off.

In a recent survey, well over a third of 2,000 US employees admitted they worked remotely without telling their bosses they were doing it from a resort.

Causing concern

The new trend speaks in particular to the labour market's younger generations, who have become accustomed to innovative initiatives helping to increase their well-being, motivation and job satisfaction.

The pandemic has accustomed them to navigating employers' extensive flexibility and willingness to obey constructive balances between their employees' work and privacy.

A hush-cation is when a hybridworking employee chooses to take a vacation break without informing their employer or officially requesting time off.       Photos: iStock

But employees' ideas of working from 'paradise' can raise eyebrows among several employers who, to put it mildly, doubt whether the holiday environment now also offers the framework to stimulate job efficiency and productivity.

Furthermore, working outside the usual environment can put the company's sensitive data at risk, especially if the employee does not take adequate precautions regarding public Wi-Fi networks and cyber security.

Fake-cation

Hush-trippers attend to and perform their usual work duties and Zoom meetings but fail to mention their whereabouts. They usually work from hotel rooms, coffee shops or a local co-working space.

"It may not be entirely fair to the employer, but if it is just a break of a few days, and the work effort is maintained, it is probably better than calling in falsely ill for the same period," a hush-cation blogger argues.

Perhaps the far best solution and win-win is to secure the green light from your boss because she knows that you will, in any case, do your job to everyone's satisfaction.

"If, as a hybrid working employee, you choose to work for a few days in a scenic location, I believe such a hush trip contributes to increasing the employee's productivity, mental well-being and satisfaction with the workplace."

Hush vacation, hush-cation or fake-cation - perhaps the far best solution and win-win is to secure the green light from your boss because she knows that you will, in any case, do your job to everyone's satisfaction.  ●
 

Read more:
Foxnews.com: Remote workers slip off for travel getaways without telling the boss
Forbes.com: What’s a hush trip - and can it get you in trouble with  your boss
Forbes.com: 4 reasons the ‘Hush-cation’ phenomenon is growing
Yahoo.com/Huffpost.com: What is a 'hush trip'?