Most individuals who tag along on their spouse’s business travel likely take vacation time from work to do it. More and more employers, though, are starting to allow their employees to work remotely. The question is, how remotely? Could you telecommute from another province, state, or country for a few days either side of a weekend to take advantage of a tag-along trip?
Occasionally, I get a comment from a Tag Aong Travel reader on the blog or via email that says, “I’d love to tag along, but I can’t. I have a job.” I know not everyone is in a position to tag along regularly. Aside from jobs, there are kids and other commitments that don’t make it easy. But, I do wonder if there are some people in a position to do it, but who don’t think they are.
Have Internet will Travel
I’m very fortunate. I am self-employed with my own public relations practice. Most of the time, as long as I have an Internet connection I don’t have to be where my clients are. My usual work day consists of communications planning, writing, and social media management. What does it matter if I’m across the city or in another country?
I’ve been self-employed for close to a decade, but it’s only in the last couple of years that I have started tagging along on Steve’s business travel regularly. I had a psychological barrier that stopped me. What if a client wanted to meet with me? What would my regular customers think if I was telling them that I’d be out of town for a week or two every couple of months? They’ll think I’m not taking their work seriously or that I’m some self-absorbed globetrotter who won’t be there when they need me.
Work or Happy Marriage: Take Your Pick
When Steve was offered a great contract with a company based in Boston, we had to evaluate how it was going to work. He’d have to travel there fairly regularly and his role would require more travel globally than he was already doing. Frequent separation can really challenge a relationship. How would we make this work? At some point in the discussion Steve said I’d just have to tag along more often. There was no reason I couldn’t and that my client fears were unfounded.
So I decided to give it a try and guess what? It works.
None of my clients have voiced any concerns about me working from afar. We meet via Skype when we have to, but frankly that’s a rare occasion. For short trips away, I often don’t even mention that I’m out of town. It’s just not an issue.
Steve often works remotely even on vacation (sigh). This was at a surf camp in Costa Rica.
Tips for Successful Telecommuting
- Get a solid Internet Connection – Never assume you’re going to have a solid Internet connection. If the hotel you plan to stay at says it has “free wifi” check online reviews to make sure it’s not flaky. If there’s an upgrade option, purchase it. Believe me it’s worth the cost. Similarly, if you’re staying with Airbnb as we often do, make sure you communicate clearly to the host that the wireless connection has to be 100 per cent solid. We had an experience at an Airbnb in Rome where we actually had to go out and purchase extra data for our mobile phones so we could tether to them for Internet because the host was not helpful in resolving the poor wifi.
Working along the banks of the Seine in Paris not best in terms of staying focused, but there was free wifi!
- Accommodate Your Home Time Zone – Regardless of where I am, I try to be online at the same time my clients are online. It lowers my anxiety because I figure if something comes up, I can be responsive. My favourite place to work remotely from is Europe because it’s 6-7 hours ahead of my home time zone in Winnipeg. I can sleep in a bit, workout, do a bit of sight-seeing and get back to the hotel or rental mid-afternoon when my clients are getting to work. I work till about 8 p.m., leaving time for a late dinner in or at a restaurant.
- Stick to a Routine – Ok, this is my solution for everything in life (I’m a bit rigid), but in the case of working remotely, it really is good advice. It’s easy to slip into “vacation” mode when you’re away. Of course you’re going to enjoy some time exploring the place you’ve travelled to, but getting into a work rhythm in your new environment is helpful for staying focused on deadlines.
Will Telecommuting Work For You?
Clearly there are jobs that are entirely location dependent, but even healthcare is offered via teleconferencing these days. If your spouse travels frequently for business, could your workplace accommodate you to telecommute on occasion? Alternatively, would you consider seeking a position that would allow you to tag along while working?
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[…] And, similar to the “job” of a military spouse mentioned in Part I of this series, you can also travel the world by tagging along with a frequent business traveler. While managing her own public relations practice, most of Deborah’s travel opportunities stem from joining her husband on the road with his job where the couple has visited three continents, North America, Europe, and Asia. At Tag Along Travel, Deborah offers tips on how to make the most of life with a frequent business traveler. […]
[…] able to tag along on Steve’s work travel as often as I do because I can do a lot of my work remotely. Touching base with the office, keeping up with email, or even working on a project might allow you […]
[…] Tagging along on your spouse's business travel while working is possible if you (and your employer) embrace telecommuting. […]