Working from home has opened the floodgates to a variety of flexible working schemes, and the newest of these is the ‘Work Away’ Scheme.
‘Work Away’ was recently introduced by GoCardless to allow its employees to work for up to 3 months a year anywhere in the world. This sounds like a dream come true for many of us, but is this dream all it’s cracked up to be?
The benefits:
1. Freedom. What is your calling? Is it the sun, the mountains, or the sea? Do you crave a rustic French village or a vibrant Brazilian city? A work away scheme allows you to move to your happy place.
2. Refresh and recharge. We all need a change of scene once in a while to mix things up and feel refreshed. Soaking in a new environment does wonders for the mind and mental health.
3. Testing the waters. If you are planning a move overseas a Work Away scheme could be a great method of 'country shopping' to find the perfect fit for you.
4. New culture. This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and meet new people, a great step towards self development and gain new life experience.
5. New language. Moving country is the fastest way to learn a new language, and a great way to challenge yourself to adapt and integrate into a new culture.
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How to maximise your Work Away trip
Want to get the most from your Work Away scheme? It's important to think things through and plan before you, so here are our top tips:
1. Why are you going? Really think through why you want to go abroad and want you want to do. Be realistic with your goals in doing so and what you can accomplish whilst still having to work.
2. Should you go? Consider your responsibilities, is it realistic to go abroad for three months? Do you have dependants and if so is it right to leave or uproot them? Can your partner join you?
3. Plan ahead. Having a Work Away scheme is great, but don’t wing it, or you may end up overpaying for accommodation, food or other essential utilities or amenities.
4. Mobility. Are you planning to travel or stay in the same location? How will you get around and maintain a stable work environment?
5. Location location location. Where can you actually go with your company scheme? Make sure you check carefully, companies only allows visits to countries that match up to safety, security and privacy standards.
6. Have a budget. What is the exchange rate like in the country you are visiting? What is the cost of living? Are you likely to make money or waste it? £20 goes a lot further in Canada than Norway.
Key Takeaways
Don’t get caught up in the promise of escape, you still have to work, so make sure you have justifiable reasons for going. Plan ahead and consider your responsibilities, make sure you maintain an effective working environment during your travels and check with your company before picking a location. Finally, make sure you look after your finances, choose countries with good exchange rates or a low cost of living, to ensure your trip is still profitable.