🏖️ The Quiet Summer Trend That’s Replacing Vacationing Abroad

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It’s the latest summer trend catching on with Millennials and Gen Z: traveling, taking time off, even hopping on a cruise… without ever telling their bosses. These employees are still technically on the clock, joining meetings from hotel rooms, beach resorts, and Airbnb cabins, blending remote work with vacation in a not-so-traditional way.

🧠 Why Not Just Take PTO?

The simple question is, why not just take paid time off? The answer points to something deeper—fear.

Workplace culture experts say employees worry they’ll be seen as weak or less committed if they take time off. The hustle culture mindset still dominates in many U.S. companies, and for Millennials in particular, this has been ingrained since they entered the workforce during a time when vacation use dropped while mobile tech usage skyrocketed. That “always on” connection got even worse during the pandemic, as working from home blurred the lines between job and life.

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📉 The “Work Martyr” Generation

According to recent reports, millennials have earned the nickname “work martyrs”—deeply tied to their jobs and often afraid to fully disconnect. American work culture perpetuates the idea that taking a break is lazy or disloyal. On top of that, the U.S. remains the only major economy that doesn’t guarantee paid vacation or sick leave for all workers, making the problem even more complicated.

Ironically, it’s this obsession with productivity that’s leading many to burn out.

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🤐 Enter Quiet Vacationing

With unlimited PTO policies creating confusion and guilt for employees who don’t know how much time off is “too much,” some are simply creating their own workaround: working remotely while vacationing—without telling anyone.

Nearly 40% of Millennials admit to doing this, never informing their manager they were out of town. Some have even turned this into a viral TikTok trend, claiming:

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🚨 What Companies Are Saying

While it might sound harmless, employers are starting to push back.

Human resource experts warn that quiet vacationing can create compliance, legal, and security issues. Tax laws, employment regulations, and company liability policies often depend on where an employee is working from. There are also concerns about weak Wi-Fi, distractions, and a dip in work efficiency.

Health concerns are also raised when employees work without proper rest or blur their time off with job responsibilities.

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💬 Communication Is Key

The takeaway? More transparency might benefit everyone.

Some experts suggest that instead of hiding your travel, it may be better to communicate with your boss. Saying something like,

⚖️ Finding Real Balance

The irony is that the very things employees are avoiding—rest, time away, and mental recovery—are exactly what improve productivity and long-term performance. Vacation is supposed to be a break, not just a change of scenery.

Until U.S. workplace culture evolves to truly support time off, quiet vacationing might remain a go-to strategy for those trying to find a fragile balance between work and well-being.

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