People have a lot of questions and concerns about combining marriage and business travel. I know that because the posts I’ve written on the subject get more visits on this blog than others. As the world starts to get vaccinated, business travel is expected to rebound. That leaves a new question–will spouses tagging along on business trips increase post-pandemic?

Humans are horrible at prediction. But why should that stop me from casting an eye on the future of marriage and business travel? I think that post-pandemic tag-along spouses are going to increase. Here’s why.

We now know that working remotely is viable

The massive involuntary work-from-home experiment brought on by COVID-19 has been largely successful from a productivity standpoint. The fears bosses had about employees lying on the sofa all day reviewing Friends re-runs instead of spreadsheets has proved to be unfounded. 

We’ve all become accustomed to seeing our colleague’s pets, bookshelves, and kitchens while video conferencing about the latest sales projections. We’ve realized that Zoom and Google Meet are pretty easy to use and can simulate the real-world in a lot of cases. 

Aside from what to do with the kids, the biggest objection to tagging along on a spouse’s business trip has been one’s work obligations and the hesitancy to use vacation time when your loved one is going to be tied up in meetings at your destination all day. Asking your boss for permission to work remotely for a week from another city seemed out of the question. 

laptop and passport

It doesn’t seem like a big stretch these days, though. Now that business leaders have seen how remote work can be just as productive as being in the office, I suspect they will be less concerned about where that remote work takes place. 

Many of us have also invested in the technology that makes remote work possible. That makes moving your “office” to a travel destination much easier. 

Some people have extra cash to spend on travel

Without a doubt, many people will be worse off financially upon the world opening up again post-pandemic. However, those who continued to have employment during lockdowns tended to maintain their incomes and were spending less because there wasn’t as much need to buy anything. Restaurants and entertainment venues were closed, there was less need for work attire, and travel was next to impossible.

I predict that once travel opens up again, couples and families will start to build vacations around business trips to combine work with leisure travel. 

Pent-up post-pandemic energy

How will people behave once we’re all vaccinated and don’t have to mask-up everywhere we go? Futurists are pointing to lifestyles in the years after World War I and the 1919 flu pandemic known as the Roaring Twenties as an indicator–people partied and spent money like mad. We could be in for our own version of this hedonistic age. That means pent-up demand to travel, I’m betting. People will go on more vacations, for sure, but I think tagging along on business travel (anywhere!) will have a strong appeal too.  

Tagging along on spousal business travel might not happen right away

The one factor at play that might prevent tagging along on your spouse’s next business trip might be how closely the two of you were self-isolated together during the pandemic. Were you Covid-cuddly or did you become anti-buddies? Depending on your situation, you might be looking forward to a little time apart from your loved one. In that case, tagging along might wait for a bit.  

Thinking of your next tag-along trip? Tap-in to these remote working tips.

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