The growing interest in living and working abroad, combined with the demand for more flexible jobs and the higher cost of housing, have created a perfect storm of sorts for some companies to decide to offer more and better benefits to their employees.
A software development company has paved the way for the perfect mix of work and vacation with its latest workplace benefit: allowing its employees to stay in another country for free while they work.
Three Week “Missions” in Tenerife
PhotoAid, based in Białystok, Poland, offers its workers up to three weeks of free accommodation and as many visits as they want to Tenerife, Spain, a tourist-friendly island in the Atlantic known for its beaches and massifs. and natural reserves.
The company introduced the benefit in the summer of 2022 “as a way to build relationships and boost morale among its employees, all of whom work remotely,” he said. CNBC Its co-founder, Raphael Mlotsky. Employees can bring their spouses with them and claim half of their air ticket once a year.
In short, FotoAid offers popular – and more sought after than ever – “workspaces”, a flexible work style that mixes holidays with office duties. Typically, your employees travel in a group with shared interests.
Why it works so well
The apartment they stay in is about 300 square meters and has views of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife harbor. It has three bedrooms, a large living room with board games, two balconies and a small gym. There are also eight workstations with high-speed internet.
PhotoAid executives said they were drawn by the opportunity to explore Europe’s most popular destinations and use the experience to their advantage to bring in new talent. “New members are not only excited, but also gain a deeper understanding of the organization and their role in it”Mlodzki said.
The team often takes breaks between assignments and meetings to visit the mountains, sunbathe on the beach, or sample the local cuisine. Some of its members find that these trips increase productivity and “charge the batteries.”
“When we hire, This is an attractive advantage that candidates always react positively to […] From renting an apartment to paying for employees’ flights, the investment is worth it,” says Mlodzki. “It revitalizes and stimulates team spirit, which is sometimes weakened by remote work.”
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America is a wave to ride
“Workshops” have become more popular among Americans, but Spain remains a place to work and live comfortably. A recent report by Online Social International revealed that three cities in Spain are among the cities most preferred by expats.
Málaga ranks first as the city where expats say they are happiest with their social, financial and work lives. Alicante and Valencia follow, according to a survey of more than 12,000 people living in 172 countries or territories.
Overall, Spanish cities dominate the report’s best cities list The Expat Insider of 2023, which ranked 49 global cities this year. Madrid finished 6th overall, while Barcelona came in 13th.
On the other hand, Google searches for the phrase “Spain digital nomad visa” increased by 66% by the end of January 2023. Information From Semrush, a digital marketing company.
Spain eased visa procedures for international teleworkers or “digital nomads”. Applicants for this type of visa must meet certain requirements, such as sufficient funds for their stay or a minimum monthly income of at least US$2,680, a little over US$32,000 a year.