Over two-thirds of workers can effectively perform their jobs from abroad: survey
Toronto has been named the joint best city in the world — along with Barcelona — for “workations”, according to a report.
Both scored 58.5 out of 90 in an IWG ranking that looked at nine criteria: climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food & drink, happiness, broadband speed and the availability of flexible workspace.
Toronto “boasts high scores in accommodation, happiness and a wealth of flexible workspaces, making it an ideal choice for travellers,” said IWG.
“Canada's largest city offers a diverse experience for digital nomads, with over 25% of the city covered in forests and an impressive 18% dedicated to parks, providing ample green spaces for relaxation amidst the bustling urban setting. With a multicultural ambiance, over 8,000 restaurants, vibrant neighbourhoods, and abundance of coffee shops and flexible workspaces makes Toronto an appealing option.”
Four Canadian cities previously landed on another list ranking the best places for “workation” released by Preply.
Barcelona, on the other hand – renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, breathtaking architecture and almost year-round sunshine – “continues to be a highly coveted destination, attracting millions of visitors each year,” said IWG in releasing the survey results, based on a survey of 1,009 U.K.-based hybrid working office workers.
“In recent times, it has become a thriving hub for digital nomads seeking the perfect blend of work and leisure for their ‘workations’. The city's allure lies in its unique combination of sun, sea, sand, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, along with its excellent transport system and relatively low cost of living compared to other popular European cities.”
Toronto and Barcelona beat out 23 other cities on IWG’s list. Tailing them in the top 10 are:
Toronto also has the most competitive job market in Canada, according to an analysis from LinkedIn.
Jo Johansson, of Resource Guru, noted that the term “workation” was first used in 2013. And this trend has grown since.
Nearly nine in 10 (88%) hybrid workers “worked from anywhere” last year, while almost three in five (57%) extended holidays by working from abroad, reported IWG, based on a survey of 1,009 U.K.-based hybrid working office workers in August 2022.
Over two-thirds (67%) of workers said they can effectively perform their jobs from abroad, and 71% said they would only consider a job that offers the flexibility to work remotely, at least part of the time.
And the ability to work from anywhere brings a lot of positives to workers, outside of work. These include:
“For an increasing number of workers, hybrid working offers the opportunity to work wherever we will be the most productive. And thanks to cloud technology, that can be anywhere in the world, provided there’s a high-quality internet connection available,” said Mark Dixon, IWG founder and CEO.
“So, it’s no wonder that more and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel, whether it’s for a few days tacked on to the end of a vacation, or a few months as a digital nomad.”
However, workations are no silver bullet. They also present challenges, such as a high cost of living (71 per cent) and time-zone differences that harm work communication (48 per cent), according to a previous report from passport-photo.online.
Employers that want to offer workations should follow these five key best practices, according to Tivian, a provider of platform and tools for employee experience:
