Workation with your parents? Lisa tried out exactly that. For a week, she combined work and family time in a vacation home in Italy. Read on to find out how it worked and what she took away from it.
Burdaverse employees go on workations throughout the year, with the summer months being the most popular. We have now received three postcards from...
Ralf Kimpel, Director of Corporate Audit, Risk & Insurance at Hubert Burda Media Holding KG, writes to us from a mountain hut in the beautiful Hohe Wand Nature Park in Austria. Accompanying him are his wife and dog Yara.
In order to combine work and leisure more consciously, Ralf decided to go on a workation with his family.
Preparation was crucial: tasks were planned in advance, appointments were coordinated, and time slots were reserved for creative topics. Once there, everyday life turned out to be a balanced mix of meetings, walks with his dog Yara, and exploring the surrounding area - including his first attempts at speaking the Lower Austrian dialect.
His conclusion: “Being able to go for these walks or hikes on the Hohe Wand before, between, or after team calls is simply wonderful. I also feel that a workation gives me new ideas thanks to the change in my everyday routine. Overall, I believe that today's flexibility in the workplace, including workations, promotes work-life balance and thus my motivation and satisfaction with my job.”
💡 Tips from Ralf:
• Plan your workation periods carefully around your attendance obligations.
• Make sure that the technical infrastructure on site is suitable.
• Block out time in your calendar for creative tasks. A new environment often provides fresh inspiration.
Thomas Endfellner, Software Engineer at Burda Digital Systems, writes to us from beautiful Catalonia, where he spent a total of three weeks.
Thomas took advantage of the opportunity and combined his usual work routines with new impressions and sea views: “The combination of my usual work and a foreign country with a foreign language and culture creates a very special atmosphere that you absolutely have to experience at least once!”
The main part of the preparation was planning the itinerary through five countries – including vignettes and environmental stickers. Once there, the day usually started with a swim in the sea before sitting down at the laptop. After work, it was often straight to the tapas bar, café, or nearest pedestrian zone, complete with that holiday feeling.
The language situation was particularly challenging: in this less touristy region, not only Spanish but above all Catalan was required – even at payment terminals and on menus. Fortunately, ChatGPT helped with the Catalan vocabulary.
💡 Tips from Thomas:
• Just do it – if your job and budget allow it.
• Traveling by car is practical if you have a lot of luggage. With a laptop, satellite dish, and everything else you need for a week-long stay, you'll have considerably more luggage.
• Stay longer! You can take 20 days per year, and if you can manage it, every additional day of vacation is worth it.
Marius Detmar, HR Business Partner at Hubert Burda Media KG writes to us from beautiful Italy, from Lake Lugano. He spent five days here with his partner.
His start to the day: “Get up early, coffee on the terrace and a view of Lake Lugano,” he says. To make the most of the cooler hours, he usually started work early. He countered the afternoon heat with cool drinks, fans, and a shady spot in the garden. And the pizza dough for the evening was quickly prepared during his lunch break. After work, he enjoyed sporting activities, a dip in the water, or an aperitif in the garden.
The preparation was straightforward but important. Above all, it was important to submit the application via bestHR and obtain the A1 certificate in good time. A quiet workplace with a stable internet connection was also crucial for everything to run smoothly. As an alternative, Marius recommends a mobile 5G modem or a suitable data package for your smartphone.
💡 Tips from Marius:
• A quiet, private workplace is essential - no cafés or public spaces.
• A good internet connection is a must! If you encounter problems, a 5G modem or a privately booked data package via your cell phone can help.
Our Burda colleagues go on workations all year round, from January to December. However, over 50 percent of approved applications currently fall within the period from May to September, allowing employees to fully enjoy the summer months in warmer climes. The top three countries among this year's applications:
1. Italy with 62 applications
2. Spain with 49 applications
3. France with 27 applications
Close behind are Austria with 17 applications and Portugal and Croatia with ten applications each.
Has this sparked your wanderlust? With team coordination, clear planning, and mutual trust, this is possible at Burda. Then nothing will stand in the way of your next workation!
