The unstoppable rise of hybrid working has spawned a new and growing band of digital nomads
People with laptops in their bags and a nose for a stable internet connection. Lockdown made flexible working normal. Obvious even. But now the ripples of change are such, that we are not just looking to work closer to home sometimes, we want to work from different offices, in different cities, and different countries. We want to work from a place that makes us happy, and this is exactly what the hybrid model enables.
“More and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel,” says Mark Dixon, Founder and CEO, of Regus. “For today’s hybrid workers, the world truly is their oyster.”
Who are digital nomads? How do they find a place to work?
According to analysis by travel website A Brother Abroad, there are an estimated 35 million digital nomads scattered around the globe. Nearly two thirds are aged under 40, and they are most likely to be working in IT (‘techpats’ is a newly coined term for remote technology workers). Other popular fields include creative services, education and training, sales and marketing, and accounting – jobs that are internet reliant and digitally orientated.
Of course, there are some basic needs to consider. Reliable Wi-Fi is essential, and sometimes those little cafes or poolside bars might not have the necessary speed and security. There is also that basic human desire for colleagues – fellow workers who share a lifestyle and an interest.
That’s one of the reasons why flexspace has become so popular. Our on-demand membership scheme has risen by 93% around the world in the past year. It gives our clients access to all of our 3,500 (and rapidly growing) global locations and that all-important reliable, beautifully designed and familiar office environment. This also allows access to colleagues who similarly utilise these hybrid spaces and enables meaningful and productive relationships to be fostered.
Working from anywhere is here to stay
Now employees have experienced the flexibility offered by hybrid working, a return to anything close to the olden days, pre-COVID-19, nine-to-five routine, feels outdated. In a survey of office workers, we found that 76% of 25-34-year-olds said that being able to choose where they work meant that they could perform better.
As forward-thinking companies start to recognise the link between happiness and productivity, some are now actively encouraging travel. Spotify, for example, told its 6,500 employees they can work from whichever region of the world they happen to be and if there’s no Spotify office nearby, the company will pay for membership of a co-working space. “It means we can work with the very best person for the job, regardless of what city or country they call home,” the company announced.
Tips for digital nomads
Tell your company – Your boss needs to know where you’re working, there can be serious legal implications if you don’t.
Make sure you have the right visa – If you enter a country on a tourist visa, you may well be breaking local laws if you then engage in work. Check that you have appropriate travel and health insurance too.
Sort your tax out – Generally speaking, if you spend more than half a year in a country, you’re considered a resident for tax purposes.