Working where others go on holiday – and vice versa.
Workation@UDG
Back in office next week – but the one in Barcelona.
Working remotely from home has become the norm since the Corona virus. But combining work with vacation — is it really that easy? In principle, it is, if the employer also offers work opportunities in different cities and countries. UDG operates a co-working office in Barcelona, among other places. The office in the Sant Marti district offers an excellent working atmosphere and is in the immediate vicinity of various leisure activities in the popular El Poblenou district. Of course, there are a few aspects to consider when choosing a workation. Melanie Galley, Senior UI Designer at UDG, took advantage of the opportunity to go on a workation with her family and reports on her experiences.
Combining the seemingly contradictory
When I told my friends and family about the idea of a workation, they looked at me with wide, sometimes bright eyes. Many still have a hard time imagining combining work and vacation. But working has long since ceased to mean sitting in the same office for eight hours a day. Modern employers are willing to offer their employees more relaxation and flexibility. Workations can increase creativity and improve overall job satisfaction. Gaining new experiences, meeting new people, and networking are not only good for employees on workations, but also for the company.
So, we quickly planned our family vacation. My husband took a "normal" vacation – to look after our children – while I moved my remote work to Barcelona for a week.
The office in El Poblenou
El Poblenou, in the Sant Martí district, is located right by the sea near the port. This former industrial district has a lot to offer. It has exciting architecture, including many lofts, restaurants, art galleries, and various leisure facilities. Since it is largely traffic-calmed — and even has car-free in places — it is an ideal environment for both creative work and family vacations.
The office is in a modern building with lots of glass and great views of the city. It's a 10-minute walk from the beach. The office has modern, loft-like furnishings, so it feels more like a stylish apartment than an office. The large roof terrace with a table tennis table and seating invites you to take a lunch break, but also to relax and work.
What do you have to keep in mind for a workation?
Working in the vibrant city of Barcelona demands a high level of commitment from employees. Mutual trust and clear agreements are essential for a successful workation. As a family, you have to be flexible because the work result and customer satisfaction remain priorities during a workation. While my husband and children enjoyed the zoo or visited their aunt, who has lived in Barcelona for years, I attended meetings under the Spanish sun. We spent time together as a family after work, and then followed up with a week-long "actual" family vacation along the Costa Brava.
Those also considering a workation should take the following aspects into account:
Working hours: Even during a workation, working hours should be clearly regulated to prevent vacation and work from interfering with each other.
Responsibility: Workations demand a high level of responsibility to still deliver excellent work quality despite the relaxed atmosphere.
Equipment: An office must of course have the necessary equipment for a workation to run smoothly.
Insurance: Employees must have appropriate insurance coverage to go on workation.
Tax law: You must clarify any tax law issues that arise from your workation. You are only liable for income tax abroad if you work for more than 183 days.
I was able to discuss and clarify all these points quickly and easily with our HR department.
I am happy to work in a company that offers, lives and supports flexible and modern working conditions. Especially with children and for a healthy work-life balance, that's worth a lot.
Smart 'n' Fit by the Playa de la Barceloneta
The UDG Smart 'n' Fit Weeks 2024, our company's internal charity sports competition, coincided with our vacation. The Smart 'n' Fit Weeks' premise is straightforward: every step, every run, every bike ride, and every meter swum counts toward a shared goal and supports a charitable organization with the money donated per kilometer. As an active, sporty person, I took the opportunity to run a few kilometers on the beach after work and collect steps on my daily walk to the office. This way, my workation benefited a charitable cause. I also made sure to use the air-conditioned fitness room in the co-working office during lunch breaks instead of spending time on the roof terrace.
Likely not my last workation
Five days pass quickly if you enjoy your work. A professional change of scenery within your own agency is good for you. I experienced this during my workation, and the subsequent family vacation on the Costa Brava rounded off the workation. I arrived back in Germany with new professional impressions and inspiration, and feeling really relaxed. Work and vacation are not a contradiction in terms. We'll see, when I'll head back "to the office"; I heard Hamburg is also a beautiful city with a UDG office.
#work-life-balance, #productivity, #workation #creativity #workandtravel #remotworking #motivation