Rise of 'workation' Staff maximise time off by working remotely from holiday spots

Katherine first caught the bug when she visited Australia a couple of years ago.

- Rachel Hall

The flights were expensive, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so she asked her manager if she could extend the trip by two weeks and work remotely from her friend's house.

That was her first taste of a "workation" - combining working with a holiday - and she loved it. She now regularly arranges pet-sitting in different places so she can visit family, friends and new cities for long weekends without spending extra.

"I just think it's brilliant for work-life balance. It's a great way to have a change of scene - your evenings and weekends, you feel like you're on a mini-holiday," she said. "It's just getting out in nature, a different perspective, different environment."

At 48, Katherine does not fit the stereotype of a young digital nomad living a freewheeling life. But she is one of a growing number of people of all ages who are taking advantage of digital technologies and increasing flexibility from employers to explore new ways of making the most of their free time.

As a conference manager at a university, she needs to be in her home town when she is organising an event, but otherwise she can work anywhere she can take a laptop.

Her employer does not have a formal policy, but managers will consider all requests.