‘So obvious’: Video reveals big risk associated with growing WFH trend

An Aussie has gone viral after sharing the awkward WFH moment her friend was forced to navigate, exposing a wider trend on the rise in 2024.

Gen Z workers are going on vacation, but “shhh”, it is a secret from their bosses.

Montana, 29, went viral for sharing the moment her mate, who was holidaying with her in Bali, ended up on a work Zoom while a Balinese dance performance was happening in the background.

“It is so loud! And so obvious she isn’t in London right now,” she shared on social media.

“Pray for her!”

Montana added that her friend was doing a very “important presentation” and their resort lifestyle was impacting her moment.

Montana posted the video on TikTok, and it has received over 700,000 views. The clip has sparked a big conversation about the trend of silent vacationing.

This means taking yourself on holidays and continuing to WFH without bothering to mention it to your employer.

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Many young people were keen to share that they’d previously booked a vacation and continued to work normally while on the trip.

“I once defended a deposition from the hotel pool in Cabo,” one shared.

“Almost got fired when attended a meeting from a beach club bar in Malaga, Spain,” another admitted.

“This was me last week! Luckily I survived,” someone shared.

“I had a call once inside the colosseum in Rome. Didn’t want to cancel the day trip for the call,” another claimed.

One person called the act “relatable”, another admitted it was their “worst nightmare”, and someone else said that it wasn’t your employer’s “business” where you decide to get your work done.

“This is the future of work,” another claimed.

Gen Z workers are going on holidays and not telling their work. Picture: Instagram/montana.ontour

She said her friend’s presentation was important. Picture: Instagram/montana.ontour

Montana said that her friend’s work meeting went off without a hitch or any inquiries from her employer.

“No one noticed a thing. The meeting went according to plan and she crushed it, regardless of the distraction,” she told news.com.au.

The 29-year-old believes in working while on vacation because it creates a healthy mindset.

“I believe we produce even higher quality work because we are happiest and most inspired when travelling,” she said.

Though, Montana admitted she was “surprised” by how many people related to the working video.

“So surprised, mainly by the amount of people who have had the same experience in Bali and all around the world,” she said.

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Many young people were keen to share that they’d taken on vacation and continued to work normally. Picture: Instagram/montana.ontour

Montana said her friend’s meeting was a success. Picture: Instagram/montana.ontour

Recruitment expert Roxanne Calder told news.com.au that there’s a “potential issue” with people working from holiday spots without telling their boss.

Ms Calder said that every company should have a “strong working from home policy” that ensures employees have proper privacy and the correct set-up before allowing them to work anywhere other than the office.

This will usually include a clause stating that, while an employee can work from home, it doesn’t mean they an work from any random location of their choosing.

Of course, because WFH has become such a normal now, she says it is likely many employees probably haven’t even checked their company’s actual policy before taking their laptop on holidays so they can keep working.

“There are lot of employees that aren’t across it at all and they’ll find themselves in hot water or potentially lose their job,” she said.

“Employers want to trust their employees and if people start taking the piss it ruins it for everyone.”

Ms Calder said people should consider the “cost” of deceiving their workplace before deciding to live, laugh, and work while on holiday.

The recruitment expert explained that bosses aren’t just concerned about productivity, they want employees to be connected and communicate with their workplaces, not just go through the motions.

Ms Calder also said the trend isn’t a great idea for workers, even if you can get away with it.

“If you’re going on holidays, you’re on holidays. You don’t do work on holidays because that defeats the purpose,” she said.

“I’d encourage employers to be firm with their employees and not to allow working on holidays.”

Originally published as ‘So obvious’: Video reveals big risk associated with growing WFH trend