Gen Z travel trend making boomer's heads explode

News.com.au

a day ago

Every week Gen Zers are sneaking off on 'hush trips' while they're supposed to be working. Some say it's a clever way to avoid burnout, while others reckon it should be a fireable offence.
Since Gen Z have clomped into the workforce in their Crocs and Docs, we've seen a heap of changes, all focused around finding a better work-life balance.
While Millennials and Gen X initially resisted (why should you have it easy when we suffered?) habits like acting your wage, bleisure-trips and actually staying home when sick are now quite common.
Now Gen Z are pushing their luck further. Enter: 'hush trips'.
A 'hush trip' is a holiday you take on the sly, on a day your employer thinks you are working from home.
If you normally work remotely on a Friday, for instance, you might treat yourself to a long weekend by driving to your destination on a Thursday night, working from your holiday destination on the Friday, and seeing the sights on the weekend.
People who work remotely 100 per cent of the time are getting away with even longer 'hush trips'.
There are stories of people going on week-long cruises, all while giving their bosses the impression they are working as normal.
Signs your co-workers might be 'hush tripping' include: increased happiness, unexplained joy and midwinter sun tan.
Gen Z has always been a 'work around the system' kind of generation, Gen Z expert Corey Seemiller told Escape.
'If they don't have a healthy work-life balance above board, it's easy to see why some might find a way to work right around 'the system' in order to claim that balance,' Dr Seemiller said.
'While lying to a supervisor is not an acceptable solution, until workplaces embrace a culture of balance, trends like these may continue to happen.'
Fellow Gen Z expert and social researcher Dr Claire Madden said: 'Gen Z are a hyper-connected, globally networked generation who have been shaped by technological ubiquity. 'This has meant they have not been restricted by geographic proximity for networking, education or work,' Dr Madden told ESCAPE.
'They believe work and learning can happen anywhere, anytime. Gen Z entered their careers in a time of significant global change, with the pandemic accelerating changes to workplace culture around flexibility and hybrid work. 'Hush trips' is an example of how Gen Z have adapted the idea of hybrid work to literally mean working from anywhere at anytime, being acceptable – even on a cruise or overseas holiday.'
If you love the idea of 'hush trips', but the embarrassing prospect of being found out is putting you off, might we suggest an alternative.
ESCAPE – Australia's go-to website for travel inspiration and advice – is giving one lucky Aussie the chance to become their new Roaming Travel Reporter.
The search for this candidate is now underway, with one adventurous Aussie soon to score their dream job as a paid content creator – travelling to six destinations in six months and filming it.
To find the perfect person, ESCAPE will be scouring social media for creators who have a knack for shooting epic content.
Announcing the opportunity, Head of Food, Travel and Health Kerrie McCallum said: 'This is the real deal. We're on the hunt for someone who knows how to hook an audience, ride the trends, and turn everyday travel moments into standout stories.'
'Our Roaming Travel Reporter will get paid to travel and share their epic adventures, shooting captivating content as they explore incredible destinations.'
Travel blogger and TV host Tyson Mayr won a similar competition in 2014 and credits it with kickstarting his creative career, which now spans everything from presenting on travel shows to photography and videography.
Mayr, who is helping ESCAPE judge applicants for its 'Greatest Travel Job' competition, said a huge component of winning will come down to being yourself.
'When I won my competition, I wasn't the most technical content creator in the mix. I'd only made a few videos. I didn't have a professional camera. I couldn't even tell you how to frame a shot,' Mayr said.
'But I found ways to let my passion shine through, and to share it in a way that was unique to what I was seeing.'
'To this day,' he said, winning that first competition 'still feels the most monumental – it was when I realised I could travel the world and build a career doing what I love.'
'This is why I'm so excited for this competition – the person who wins is going to have their life changed. Not just because you get paid to travel, but because of the doors it could open.'
Interest piqued? Share your most creative travel content on your own TikTok or Instagram account using the hashtag #GreatestTravelJob to go into the running to win.
Submissions are open from August 1-31 and will be judged by a panel of travel experts. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favour. And if you don't win, at least you now know what a 'hush trip' is and can take one to console yourself …