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How is remote work changing Americans’ approach to holiday travel? What are the benefits and hidden costs of working while traveling during the holidays?
Remote work has fundamentally changed how Americans vacation, with nearly half of holiday travelers now mixing work and leisure. This shift is transforming traditional boundaries between professional obligations and personal time.
Below, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of remote working during the holidays.
Working During the Holidays
The holiday season has traditionally posed challenges for workplace productivity, with 54% of employees reporting decreased focus by mid-December. Remote work is changing this dynamic, as a new breed of professional—“laptop luggers”—emerges. Nearly half of employed travelers now plan to work during their holiday trips, up from just a third last year.
Pros of Holiday Remote Work
Studies show that remote work can boost productivity by 40%, helping ensure consistent output during the holidays, when workplace performance typically declines.
The flexibility of remote work allows employees to optimize their time, transforming previously wasted periods—like weather-related travel delays or long airport waits—into productive work sessions.
The ability to work during the holidays from anywhere also helps employees balance increased holiday demands at home with work responsibilities, giving them more flexibility in managing their time during this busy season.
Cons of Holiday Remote Work
As remote work makes it easier to blend work and holiday travel, many of the traditional challenges of working during vacation are becoming harder to escape. While the ability to work from anywhere might seem liberating and appears to offer workers greater control, this seeming freedom can actually mask workplace pressure. Over a quarter of employees work during vacation because their supervisors expect it, while nearly 30% do so out of fear of losing their job.
This constant connectivity can create competing anxieties for employees, making them feel guilty about working during family time, while simultaneously worrying about missing important work communications or falling behind on responsibilities when they try to relax. Research shows nearly two-thirds of employees experience anxiety when they don’t check work emails while away, suggesting that the ability to work remotely can make it harder to truly disconnect. Without clear boundaries between work and holiday time, employees may find their creativity, decision-making abilities, and overall work quality declining.
Holiday Remote Work Tips
For employers, the foundation starts with technology and security. Companies should provide workers with essential tools they’ll need for work beyond the office—from laptops and cloud access to quality webcams and noise-canceling headsets. They must also establish clear security protocols for remote work during travel, including specific requirements for VPN use and guidelines for protecting sensitive data when using public networks.
For employees, effective remote holiday work requires careful planning across three key areas:
- Pre-trip preparation. Workers should inquire about their company’s geographic restrictions on remote work, as some organizations limit work to employees’ home state or within the US. Working from unauthorized locations can lead to serious consequences. They should also verify their destination has reliable power and internet service, and complete any critical tasks before departing to avoid returning to a backlog of work.
- Setting up for success. Once at their destination, workers should identify a dedicated workspace that allows for focused work and professional calls. They should also communicate their work schedule clearly to family and hosts, establishing expectations for when they’ll be available for holiday activities versus work commitments.
- Maintaining balance. Successful remote holiday work requires committing to a healthy work-life balance. Workers should maintain regular routines, schedule holiday activities during non-work hours, and protect time for exercise and outdoor breaks to ensure both productivity and well-being.
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