More than one in four desk-based Brits are planning to work remotely from Europe this year amid a culture of ‘hybrid holidays’ according to research.
A survey of 2,000 adults who usually work at home or in an office, carried out by phone network Virgin Media O2 Business, revealed that 27% were thinking of carrying out their duties abroad.
Of those with overseas work plans, 76% were considering adding remote working days to annual leave to make the most of time away.
The five most popular destination for remote working is Spain, according to the poll, closely followed by France then Italy, Portugal and Germany.
Nearly half of respondents (49%) said their surroundings had the biggest impact on their productivity and they were looking to take advantage of available flexible working options, while 37% of those eyeing work abroad think it will make them more productive.
In addition, 58% of those intending to work remotely in Europe want a better work-life balance, and 44% are looking for a change of scene.
One in three (33%) have planned a hybrid holiday to split their annual leave with their partner to cover school holidays and childcare.
Jo Bertram, managing director of business and wholesale at Virgin Media O2, said that with Covid-19 (Coronavirus) travel restrictions easing across Europe, and the network’s recent announcement that it will not be reintroducing roaming fees for the continent, 2022 could be the year that working from anywhere becomes a reality.
“Whether it’s a sole trader updating their social feeds from the beach or employees at global corporates getting back to business trips, the right mobile tariff means they can stay connected, and roam like at home from Portugal across to Latvia, and from Iceland down to Greece,” she said.
“For us, it’s an important part of offering businesses of all sizes the choice to stay connected, with flexibility and peace of mind, however they choose to work.”