Flexibility is becoming a necessity for many employees. Here are 12 companies that not only provide vacation time, but remote work options.
The emergence of more teleconference capabilities and cloud computing has made flexible scheduling and remote work increasingly popular, perhaps even a new normal, according to a recent Condeco Software report. Nearly half of US employers already offer remote work options, the report found.
Many remote work positions are in the gig economy, and independent contractors often aren't able to take paid time off (PTO) for vacations or personal reasons. However, even full-time employees aren't making use of their vacation time, taking shorter trips to not get too behind on projects.
Companies are taking note of the unused vacation time, resulting in some actually helping workers take the much-needed time by financially supporting trips via discounts, stipends, and reimbursements, according to a report from Glassdoor and Business Insider.
The report compiled a list of the top 12 companies that offer flexible work options, as well as financially supported vacation time.
Here are the 12 organizations according to flexjobs.com:
1. AFAR Media
AFAR Media is a travel media brand that seeks to inspire global travel. The company has a magazine, along with a website that features travel guides and articles. According to a blog post posted by the company, full-time employees receive 30 days of vacation time and a $2,000 stipend to encourage them to travel to new places.
2. Airbnb
Airbnb was established in 2008 as an online hospitality marketplace for hosts and travelers to connect. Airbnb features listings for homes, rooms for rent, villas, boutique hotels, and more. It has served thousands of people through its 2 million worldwide listings. Employees receive $2,000 worth of travel coupons each year.
3. BambooHR
BambooHR is an HR software solutions company that seeks to help companies move beyond spreadsheets. It offers software to help with applicant tracking, employee onboarding, time-off management, employee database, and more. Located in Lindon, Utah, the company has hired for part-time and remote jobs in the area. BambooHR offers employees what they call “paid paid vacation“—$2,000 each year to travel as you please.
4. Basecamp
Basecamp, founded in 1999, is the creator of a popular project management tool of the same name. The distributed company has 50 employees working across 32 cities. According to Business Insider, employees who have worked with the company for one year or more get to choose from 16 different paid vacation packages each year. These trips are valued at $4,000-$5,000 each.
5. Evernote
Evernote is an all-encompassing app that allows users to capture, organize, and share notes in one place. Links, tables, audio messages, and more can be included in each note. Evernote is located in Mountain View, California, and has offered freelance jobs in the past. The company offers employees unlimited vacation days and a $1,000 yearly vacation stipend.
6. Expedia
As a well-known travel booking site, Expedia has served clients in more than 60 countries worldwide. Users of the site can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and even activities. As an employer, Expedia hires for freelance and telecommute positions. Employees of the company receive a travel reimbursement that ranges from $250-$750, depending on tenure. They also receive discounts on retail and travel packages purchased through the site.
7. FullContact
Another company that pays for your vacation, FullContact is a platform that helps businesses and individuals develop and maintain business relationships. It helps in the areas of identity resolution, contact management, profile enrichment, audience insights and development, fraud prevention, and customer care. FullContact provides $7,500 per year for employees to travel—and it’s required that they don’t work while on vacation!
8. Motley Fool
Motley Fool seeks to “make the world smarter, happier, and richer” through its business and investing advice. In addition to offering unlimited vacation time, the company also has a “Fool’s Errand” program where one employee’s name is drawn from a hat every month and awarded $1,500 towards a two-week vacation. The lucky winner has to take the trip before the next monthly meeting and is asked for no contact during their travels to ensure the ultimate in relaxation.
9. Moz
Moz is a software as a service (SaaS) company that develops software for inbound marketing, hosts vibrant communities of online marketers, and provides APIs for link data and social influence. The rundown of what Moz employees receive for vacation is: 21 days paid time off per year, seven days of sick leave, 10 paid holidays, and $3,000 per year vacation expense reimbursement.
10. Travelzoo
Travelzoo is a commerce site in business since 1998. It publishes travel deals from over 2,000 entertainment, travel, and local companies to an audience of 28 million members across the world. It also offers exclusive deals and rates to members who join the site. According to Glassdoor, employees of Travelzoo are offered a “$1,500 stipend and three extra days of PTO to ‘book a hotel stay, vacation package, cruise, or flight offer that we negotiate on behalf of our 28 million members worldwide,’ according to Michael Stitt, President of Travelzoo North America.”
11. TripAdvisor
As the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor serves more than 350 million users monthly. Users can book flights, hotels, vacation rentals, restaurants, and more. The site boasts a large database of user reviews to help customers make the right travel choices for their needs. As a company, TripAdvisor offers a travel reimbursement of $250 or more, depending on how long an employee has worked at the company. It also offers discounts on packages offered through the website.
12. United Airlines
Founded in 1926, United Airlines now hosts 4,500 flights every day to more than 335 airports on five continents. As one of the largest airlines in the world, United Airlines seeks to be an inclusive employer and was even named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by Fortune magazine. The company offers discounted airline tickets and unlimited standby travel on any United flight to employees.
If you’re one of the 54% of Americans who don’t take all of their vacation time, finding a company that encourages mental well-being and time away from the desk is key. These 12 companies that pay for your vacation and have flexible job opportunities can provide a great starting point for your search for a better way to work and live. (Macy Bayern - Techrepublic.com/photo: Mohamed Ajufaan)
