As the world reverts to RTO or “Return to Office” how can you embrace Bleisure Living in a way that’s ethical and keeps both your business and leisure fulfilling and productive?
Make sure that when you’re OOO (out-of-office), you are ethnical in your behavior and communications.
Matt and Nancy partnered to share these seven tips:
- Try to see the world from your company’s POV. Some leaders believe strongly that the best work can only be achieved via frequent face-to-face interaction. Unless you work for yourself, you must respect your company’s policies. However, get a thorough understanding of what your manager and the HR department expect from you and act accordingly. If you are working for a company that wants a constant in-person presence, consider your career priorities and perhaps even look for a role that better meets your needs.
- Be transparent! This doesn’t mean you have to share the name of your hotel or restaurant name with your job, but if you won’t be in the office because you’ll be out of town, say that! Social media has made the world more connected than ever, so transparency about why you aren’t in office is much better than lying.
- Work odd times. Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 hours might not apply in your new time zone. Instead of asking others to change their schedules, be open to waking up early and having a free afternoon or working into the evening and enjoying brunch.
- Stay connected. You can potentially get charged as much as $35 for Wi-Fi on American Airlines, but keep yourself accessible whenever possible. I highly recommend this over some unfun surprises when you land. But again, know your company’s policies. You may need to prepare yourself to pay some of these expenses out of your own pocket.
- Speaking of $$, clearly understand your company’s policies. If you constantly schedule meetings and trips to conferences in tropical climates or at ski resorts, your company may become suspicious. Be honest with how you plan and expense your time out of the office.
- Be careful with your social media. If your supervisor and co-workers see you frolicking on the beach when you have a big report due, they will undoubtedly question how you spend your Bleisure Living time.
- Report regularly on your accomplishments. This is especially important. Even if you’re not asked, prepare weekly status updates so your employer can see that you’re still delivering results — even when you’re on the road.
Many companies support the Bleisure Living way of working, and others are committed to always having all their employees in the office. Know your employer, respect their policies, and plan your career moves accordingly!
