5 reasons why you should take your workforce abroad this summer

As a small or medium-sized business, competing with larger organizations and their generous staff benefits would be impossible. Companies like Automattic fly their staffers out on a week-long conference every year, Apple offers unlimited sick pay, free food in the office, donation matching, gym membership, stock purchase programs and more. But if you want to hold onto your highest-performing talent, you need to do something to keep them engaged.

 

One cost-effective motivation program that’s growing in popularity is staff vacations, effectively bundling together your teammates and taking them someplace different for a one of a kind experience designed to reward, inspire, and motivate them for the year ahead…

 

Tax-deductible

 

One of the most obvious benefits of taking your team on a staff holiday is that your travel expenses are 100% deductible as long as your trip is business-related, you are traveling away from your regular place of business longer than an ordinary day’s work, and you need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home. Make sure that those boxes are ticked, and you’ll be able to run up a sizeable saving off of your annual bill.

 

Team-building

 

Bringing your team together can be hard work. A night at a restaurant or a game of bowling is all well and good, but taking your team outside of their comfort zone and forcing them to spend some quality time together will ultimately create a better team dynamic. Whether you opt for a weekend in New York City or try out some team building in Barcelona, there are many options to consider – work your magic, and your team will come together in new ways.

 

Motivational

 

We all go through slumps, where we can’t be bothered with work and feel like giving up. It is true that employers must work hard to motivate their team, and there is no better way to do that than offering unlimited cocktails and a week in Europe. Plan a trip in advance, and when you’re going through a tough time with lots of client projects, dangle the carrot of a free trip.

 

Rewards hard-working staffers

 

Following on from our last point is rewarding your team for their hard work. Showing people that you care about their efforts and that you’re grateful for their existence is important from time to time, especially in today’s cut-throat world where people jump from job to job with no loyalty or commitment. The more you invest in your team, the more they’ll give back to you.

 

New perspectives

 

Finally, getting out of the office and working in a new environment is a great way to see the world through a new lens. Not only will this help you to perform better when you’re back in the office, but it might even inspire you to change the course of your business and try out new ideas. Who knows – you might even pick up your first international client in the airport!?

 

Though it may seem unconventional to put your team on a plane and send them halfway around the world, it can be a smart move. Let us know your thoughts and check back soon for more advice on running a successful business, whatever your size, shape, or path.