The business trip to Lisbon is over, meeting finished, contract signed. And now? Instead of heading straight back to the boring office, a return flight is scheduled for two bleisure days later, including sun, wind and pastéis de nata. Business plus leisure — sounds like luxury, but it’s a real business case. Because companies allowing it are -investing wisely. They don’t pay for an extended vacation, but rather benefit twice over:
- Relaxation meets self-initiative: Employees who organize, extend, and pay for their own trips demonstrate commitment and often return more relaxed than after a purely mandatory program.
- Employer branding on tour: Employees love sharing bleisure moments. Whether on LinkedIn or Instagram, this will make your company an employer where work and life walk hand in hand.
- Cultural boost instead of loss of control: Those who say, “Sure, add a few days to your business trip,” strengthen their bond and demonstrate that they understand modern work culture.
- Cost-neutral, climate-positive:
The company only pays original flight there. Employees pay for -everything else themselves. The result: a combination of work and personal moments of happiness — which is more sustainable than any trip that has to be made twice to reach the destination. - New perspectives included: Those who stay longer immerse themselves more deeply, gather lasting impressions, build international contacts and often bring unexpected inspiration back with them.
Make bleisure actively possible in your company: with clear guidelines communicated openly. Encourage employees to get more out of business trips — for themselves and subsequently for the company.
Angela Barzen …
… is a business coach, consultant and speaker in Munich. She trains start-ups and medium-sized companies that want to introduce new ideas to the market.
Photos: © Private, istock.com/Hiranmay Baidya
