What Is Bleisure

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The term "Bleisure" combines "business" and "leisure," signifying the fusion of business travel with leisure time. Bleisure can include extending a business trip to allow for personal time, often termed as a "workation," where the trip includes both professional engagements and dedicated time for relaxation or exploration.
While the concept might seem straightforward, its implementation and definition can vary significantly across different companies.
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The Growing Importance of Bleisure Travel

The COVID-19 pandemic served as a significant catalyst for the rise of Bleisure. With restrictions impacting regular travel, employees began to value flexible travel options more than ever. Why is bleisure becoming so popular?

To illustrate, imagine a typical scenario where business workshop is scheduled mid-week in Barcelona. Employees traveling from Hamburg can extend their stay over the weekend with minimal additional leave, effectively blending their business obligations with leisure, enriching their travel experience.
This integration of leisure time with business travel not only satisfies the wanderlust of the modern professional but also brings substantial benefits to employers. Companies embracing Bleisure demonstrate a commitment to employee satisfaction, which can lead to increased retention, enhanced employer branding, and a more motivated workforce.

Recent studies, including one by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and research at Freenow, show a notable uptick in both interest and implementation of Bleisure policies.  A staggering 82% of travel managers reported increased interest in Bleisure, with business travelers expressing a keen desire for guidelines that support combining business travel with leisure activities.

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Distinction Between Bleisure and Traditional Business Trips

Understanding the distinction between traditional business travel and Bleisure is crucial for both employees and employers looking to adapt to new travel norms.

Business trips

Traditional business trips are well-defined: the employer organizes the itinerary, which typically includes meetings, accommodations, transport, and allowances for meals. These trips are tightly scheduled with little to no free time for personal activities, and everything from the hotel booking to the class of travel is governed by strict corporate policies.

Bleisure

In contrast, Bleisure offers a more flexible approach, where the structured schedule of business obligations can be extended to include personal leisure activities. This autonomy changes the dynamics of the trip significantly. While on a business trip, accommodations and activities are usually predefined; during Bleisure, employees have the freedom to choose where to stay and how to spend their free time, whether that's in a hotel, an Airbnb, or even a coworking space. The flexibility has its implications on the compliance risks and other aspects of the trip that we explore further in the article.

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Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Bleisure

Despite its popularity, the adoption of Bleisure is not without challenges. Businesses must navigate the complexities of tax implications, social security issues, and compliance with local laws—factors that can complicate the extension of business trips. Additionally, companies need to foster an environment where employees feel comfortable engaging in Bleisure without fear of negative repercussions, ensuring open dialogue and clear guidelines.

Legal and Tax Considerations

Visa and Work Permits: Employees need to ensure their stay is legally permissible under the visa regulations of the host country. In the European Union, for example, movement is generally more straightforward due to freedom of movement for residents, but specifics can vary based on the nature of the stay and the activities undertaken.

Tax Liability: The potential to create a tax liability in the host country depends on the nature of the work performed during the Bleisure days. Generally, short stays do not change tax obligations, but this can vary, especially if significant business activities are conducted.

Social Security: For European travelers, an A1 certificate is required to confirm that home country social security law applies when working temporarily abroad. Companies need to ensure that these certifications are in place for the entire duration of the trip, covering both business and leisure days.

Health Insurance: While employees are covered by corporate travel insurance during the business portion of the trip, health coverage for the leisure days might require additional arrangements. Companies often encourage employees to use European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) or arrange for extended coverage to ensure that medical needs are met throughout the entire trip.

Employment Practices: Employees should avoid engaging in significant contractual activities that could impose new legal obligations or business risks on the company during their leisure time.

Other Considerations

Data Security: With the increasing concern for data protection, ensuring secure connections during Bleisure trips is paramount. Employees should be cautious about using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, especially when handling sensitive company data. Companies need to provide guidelines and possibly even technical solutions to help employees maintain high security standards while working remotely.

Financial Implications and Responsibilities: During the Bleisure portion of a trip, financial responsibilities shift. The employer covers expenses directly related to the business aspects, such as flights, accommodations, and per diems for the official duration of the trip. Any additional days taken for leisure, including extended stays or personal activities, must be financed by the employee. This clear delineation helps prevent confusion over expense responsibilities.

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Summing up, to effectively integrate Bleisure into corporate travel policies, companies must address these logistical and compliance challenges comprehensively. This includes updating travel guidelines to accommodate the dual nature of Bleisure trips, training employees on the new policies, and ensuring that all legal, tax, and insurance requirements are clearly communicated and understood.