What Is A ‘Hush Trip’? Benefits & Downsides

Following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many office workers discovered that getting up and going to a place of work is not necessary for every job. Even after offices reopened, millions of employees could continue working from home—or everywhere else. This shift in how people work has shifted how they travel, too. This new type of travel is called the “hush trip.”

What is a ‘hush trip’?

A ‘hush trip’ is when workers work remotely from somewhere other than the norm, not giving their bosses any information about their whereabouts. Hush-trippers continue working—logging on to video calls, and carrying out all the work tasks—but never disclose where they are working from. They work in hotel rooms and coffee shops and sometimes even do so in shared office spaces that are rented for short periods. They may also use a VPN to obscure their location.

The concept is much like that of “leisure travel,” in which one makes business and leisure travel together. They might take a work-related trip, then add time for vacation or spend some of their leisure time working remotely from the destination in between activities dedicated to relaxation and sightseeing.

While, by definition, both hush trips and leisure travel generally involve travelling companions, there is no reason why people could not travel alone.

What are some of the benefits of this type of travel?

In the opinion of the advocates of hush trips, such travel can add to the very productivity and mental well-being that will enable an employer to retain his or her employees. Hush-trippers can save themselves from the stresses involved in explaining the reasons behind the travel to the boss, followed by corporate approval that may turn out to be a ‘no’.

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Hush trips will also grant spontaneity and flexibility in travel that allows workers to take advantage of great deals, among many other perks. Since 2020, many industries have reprioritized their way of working; the hush trip squarely fits into that escape from a classic “desk-bound existence.” There is a balance of structure and independence within.

What are the downsides?

There are also risks associated, hush trips particularly if you are going to be in a place with unreliable internet connectivity, or to locations that have large time zone differences. It simply exemplified that there was no trust between the employer and the employee; then, the problems would emerge if the employer called the employee into the office at the last minute.

There are administrative concerns, too, particularly if the hush trip becomes a longer stay. HR teams wrestle hard enough with knowing where remote workers are based, but hush trips open up further potential tax, privacy, and legal issues.