The Top Employee Benefits to Look Out for If You Love to Travel

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Rachel Off Duty: 8 Job Benefits to Look for If You Love to Travel

Calling all avid travelers who crave freedom and flexibility even while climbing the corporate ladder!

The benefits and perks of your job can have a massive impact – positive or negative – on your ability to live a travel-filled lifestyle. Fortunately, more and more companies, especially those in digital-first industries, are offering increasingly modern benefits to enrich your life while you enrich their bottom line.

Finding a company that offers employee travel benefits is one of the best things you can do for yourself if travel is a priority! 

Gone are the days when a pizza party in the break room or an in-office masseuse will cut it. No, what you need is a company that will offer you real, thoughtful, and generous benefits that take care of you and support your lifestyle goals. If travel is one of them, then employee travel benefits are just one of the many job benefits you should be prioritizing while you embark on your job search. 

Below, we’ll look at the top job benefits for travel lovers – what they are, what they offer, and how to negotiate for them. Not all companies or roles will have all the benefits listed below, and that’s okay. By familiarizing yourself with the possibilities, you’ll be able to make a more discerning decision about the role, and the perks, that are best suited for you.

Let’s get into it! 

First, What are Employee Benefits and Perks?

Employee benefits are non-wage compensations such as insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off. These benefits are designed to improve employee economic security and wellbeing, with the goal of encouraging job satisfaction and better work performance. 

On the other hand, job perks are designed to create a pleasurable work environment. These are additions to the benefits package and can include things like free meals, gym memberships, or travel benefits.

While benefits are contractual promises to you as an employee and are, in my opinion, the most important thing to scrutinize in your total compensation package, company perks, when done well, can serve as the icing on top. 

Consider both employee benefits and perks when evaluating your total compensation package at the company you are considering!

Why Do Employee Travel Benefits Matter?

Employee benefits have a major impact on your experience throughout the length of your employment.

Great employee benefits take care of your healthcare, support you as you prepare for retirement, encourage you to tend to your mental and physical health, offer you childcare, and / or empower you to travel and take time off

In the United States, most of these benefits (with the exception of healthcare which is typically required for most companies with 50+ employees per the Affordable Care Act), are actually not mandatory and are therefore at the discretion of each individual employer. However, many companies – the smart ones at least! – want to provide a comprehensive and attractive benefits package to be competitive in the market and catch the eyes of the very best talent, like you 🙂

Because of this, it is absolutely crucial that you leave your scarcity mindset behind and pay close attention to benefits packages when applying for jobs across multiple companies. I’ve turned down what I once considered dream jobs because of their stances on time off, working from home, and commuting.

There are job opportunities out there that match your skillset and your lifestyle design as long as you are willing to look! When it comes to travel benefits in particular, these are the very first things I look out for in my benefits package because of my personal priorities. Obviously, travel is a massive part of my life! Travel benefits matter because legally, companies in the US are not required to provide you with any leave – paid or unpaid.

So, the sky’s the limit with how little or how much time off generosity you can expect to receive (the average in the USA is just 11 days at entry level). Beyond this, how that time off is granted matters. Are you paid out on your time off if you don’t use it, or if you quit? How do your sick days work? If you are considering a company with an unlimited PTO policy, are employees actually using theirs?

While conducting your job search, if a benefits package you’re offered gives you pause, you may want to probe deeper with your hiring manager or listen to your gut. If you don’t, you could run the risk of being miserable even if on paper you have the greatest job in the world.

The Top Employee Benefits to Look For if You Love to Travel

1. Paid Time Off

Rachel Off Duty: Job Benefits to Look Out For if You Love to Travel

Paid Time Off (PTO) is a job benefit that allows employees to take time off without losing income. It can also be referred to as ‘personal leave,’ ‘vacation time,’ ‘annual leave,’ ‘paid holiday,’ or ‘paid leave’. Most US companies offer PTO to full-time employees, but the exact policies, amounts, and regulations vary widely.  

Common structures for Paid Time Off include accrual systems where employees accumulate time off based on hours worked, fixed days systems where employees are granted a set amount of PTO at the beginning of the year, unlimited PTO where employees are free to take as much time off as they need, and sick leave independent of vacation days to bucket time off into different categories.

In the US, the average PTO allowance is between 11 – 20 days per year depending on how long you’ve been at the company. However, some companies are starting to explore alternative time off policies, like unlimited PTO and flexible PTO. 

If travel is an important part of your lifestyle, paid time off should be at the very top of your list when evaluating your benefits package!

2. Flexible Schedules

Flexible schedules can be an excellent company perk, giving you more autonomy over your time. This policy typically involves some sort of alternative to the standard 9-to-5 and empowers employees to choose the work cadence that works best for their lives. This flexibility comes in handy for travel lovers in many ways too, allowing you to juggle things like time differences, jetlag, or last-minute trips without stressing about being on the clock.

At many companies, a flexible schedule can be implied without being an explicit employee benefit. You might not need to show up or sign on at exactly 9 am or stay until precisely 5 pm, because the expectation is that you will put in your 8ish hours a day regardless of whether you came in late or left early.

However, flexible schedules can go far beyond variable start and end times. Here are some examples:

  1. Compressed Work Week: Employees work longer hours on some days in exchange for shorter hours or a day off during the week. For example, you might work four 10-hour days and get to take every Friday off.
  2. Flextime: Employees choose their own daily schedule as long as they complete their required work hours. This is particularly useful for early birds, night owls, or digital nomads
  3. Asynchronous Work: Employees and / or teams set their own hours based on convenience, completing tasks and communicating with coworkers whenever is most convenient for them as long as it’s done in a reasonable timeframe (like 24-48 hours, for example). 
  4. Job Sharing: Two part-time employees share the responsibilities of one full-time job. This allows them to work on alternating days or split the day, providing more free time for each individual.
  5. Results-Only Work Environment (ROWE): Employees can work whenever they want as long as they achieve their goals or complete their tasks.

3. Remote Work Options

Rachel Off Duty: Job Benefits to Look Out For if You Love to Travel

If you’re looking to travel for extended periods while maintaining your job, or simply hoping to avoid a commute so you can save that gas money for plane tickets, finding a position that allows you to work remotely is probably going to be the single most crucial job benefit to seek out. With a remote work setup, you can work from home or live in a new city for extended periods of time without sacrificing your income.

Companies may have differing remote work policies, from hybrid (where you’ll need to split your time between working remotely and working in the office), to flexible remote work (where you might be able to choose to work from home or in the office depending on your preferences), to fully remote.

Be sure to look into the finer details, like whether the company has any restrictions on where you can work remotely. Also, if remote work isn’t a default offering at your company, don’t be afraid to ask whether it can ever be an option, whether permanently or occasionally, and how you might be able to make it a reality for yourself.

I know many people who’ve negotiated permanent remote work for themselves at companies with in-person, location-dependent cultures!

4. Sabbaticals

Sabbaticals are extended leaves from work, lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a full year. This particular benefit can be hard to find, but it is a valuable gem. 

A sabbatical allows you to pursue personal interests, engage in professional development, or simply rest.

Some companies have established policies for sabbaticals, such as how long you can take off, whether or not you’ll be paid, and what you will be able to do during your sabbatical. Others simply award you a chunk of time to do whatever you’d like based on your tenure.

As sabbaticals are not a very common thing outside of academia yet, some companies might not even realize they have (or should have!) this perk. Mine was one of them, and after 7 years of being employed I only just learned employees get up to 2 months off after 10 years. Point being, don’t be afraid to ask!

5. Conferences and Business Travel

Business travel provides a unique opportunity for employees to visit new places while on the job (and without having to pay for the trip). Once a bit of a taboo subject, business travel today is a perfect opportunity to combine your work obligations with a bit of fun along the way.

Perhaps you can fly in a few hours early or leave a day late, and go see the sights before or after that meeting, conference, or convention. All you need to make sure of is that your exploration doesn’t interfere with your core responsibilities for being there in the first place. We’re all adults here, right?

Depending on the company, business travel can also provide other invaluable perks. If you book any of your travel yourself, you could potentially gain credit card points, miles, and even status on your favorite airlines. I, for one, have only been able to achieve status on Delta because of all my work travel! Hello, free upgrades!

6. Company Retreats and Offsites

Rachel Off Duty: Job Benefits to Look Out For if You Love to Travel

Company retreats are organized outings for the entire team or specific departments outside of the office environment. These events range from a local day out to a week-long trip to a different city or country. 

Offsites typically focus on team-building, relaxation, and fostering a stronger sense of camaraderie amongst employees. For avid travelers, company retreats offer a unique opportunity to explore new places without using personal vacation time or funds.

If the company you’re applying to work for is fully remote, you can easily find out about this particular perk by asking if you have opportunities to get together in-person throughout the year.

7. International Transfers

An international transfer is when an employee has the opportunity to be assigned to another country’s office or department within the same company. 

The transfer duration can vary from a few weeks to a permanent relocation, with compensation and other logistical details arranged by the company. This unique arrangement is an excellent way for employees to experience living and working in a new city or country and even allows you to fund the costs associated with relocation in part or in full through your company.

If your company has offices in multiple cities and countries throughout the world, it couldn’t hurt to ask what the qualifications would be to be considered for a transfer!

8. Travel Discounts, Stipends, and Freebies

Some companies offer travel discounts and perks to their employees, such as discounted flights, hotel stays, and rental cars. These benefits can help you save money while traveling and make it easier to experience new destinations without breaking your budget.

Other companies take it one step further, offering actual stipends for employees to use specifically towards travel, personal enrichment, and vacation time. This can be anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars a year, dependent on your tenure.

You may also find that companies offer free trips or the chance to ‘win’ paid-for travel. This can be an annual guaranteed benefit or an incentive (such as a prize for hitting a sales quota or reaching an organizational goal). I have friends who’ve traveled to Hawaii and the Caribbean countless times thanks to annual paid-for trip benefits from their companies.

How to Find Out A Company’s Employee Perks and Travel Benefits Before Accepting the Job

Ask During the Interview

Ask about your desired position’s day-to-day operations, benefits, and perks. The interviewer will likely provide comprehensive information about the company’s benefits package or send over more details after your interview.

Scrutinize the Company’s Website and Social Channels

Most companies outline their employee perks under “Careers” or “Why Work With Us.” If not, you might be able to find a sampling of the company’s employee benefits in the job listing itself. 

Looking at the company’s LinkedIn and other social channels can also offer a valuable insight into the company’s culture and personality.

Read Employee Review Sites

Websites like Glassdoor and Indeed allow current and past employees to share their experiences, often including details on perks.

Internal Networking

Connect with former or current employees through social media platforms like LinkedIn. If they agree to have a chat or do an informational interview with you, they can provide insider information about the company’s benefits and how they work in practice.

Your Offer Letter

Once you receive a job offer, look for the company perks and job benefits in the official benefits package.

Ensure you thoroughly review it and ask clarifying questions. If a benefit or policy isn’t entirely favorable, or if you were hoping for more, it’s crucial to make those wishes known before you accept the offer. If the company is invested in you and excited to hire you, they’ll usually try to at least go back to the drawing board and see whether they can agree to your requests or meet you in the middle, provided the requests are realistic.

Don’t go asking for unlimited PTO if the rest of the company has fixed vacation days. Make your ask relative and focus on baby steps that aim to meet in the middle. Try instead to ask for a few more days of PTO a year, especially if your experience supports it or your previous role had a more generous vacation policy than the one being offered to you!

Get Inspired! Check Out These Companies with Famous Travel-Friendly Job Benefits

The sky is truly the limit when it comes to travel benefits for employees, and companies know that the more attractive the benefits, the more competitive they’ll be when it comes to attracting the best possible talent. 

I’ll leave you with just a few of my favorite company travel benefits that are setting an example for what’s possible. 

  1. Patagonia’s Good Weather Policy: Known for its love for the outdoors, Patagonia encourages employees to take breaks and head outside whenever the weather is good. The company believes this exposure to nature increases productivity and creativity among its workforce, which is something I think we can all get behind.
  2. Google’s International Remote Work Policy: Google, recognizing the importance of work-life balance, gives its employees the chance to work remotely internationally for up to a month each year. This initiative allows Googlers the flexibility to travel and experience different cultures without taking precious time off. One of my Googler friends is planning to spend his first remote work month in Brazil! 
  3. Airbnb’s Annual Travel Coupon: As a company built on exploring the world, Airbnb gives its employees an annual stipend of $2,000 to travel and stay at an Airbnb listing anywhere in the world. This perk is awesome because it allows employees to personally experience their product and return from their trips feeling even more fired up about what they are creating.
  4. Delta Airlines’ Free Standby Flights: Delta Airlines employees and their immediate families can benefit from free standby flights. This perk allows them to travel more freely and flexibly, and similarly to Airbnb, allows them to get more familiar with what it’s like to fly Delta as a customer.
  5. REI’s ‘Yay Day’: Outdoor retail company REI offers its employees a ‘Yay Day’ – a paid day off every six months to spend outdoors. The goal is to encourage employees to enjoy and respect the environment, aligning with REI’s brand philosophy.
  6. Expedia’s Annual Travel Allowance: Expedia gives its employees an annual travel allowance. This financial incentive encourages staff to travel and once again, gain firsthand experience of the company’s services.
  7. Intrepid Travel’s Annual Trip Allowance: Intrepid Travel encourages staff members to participate in the group trip adventures the company designs and sells, giving them an authentic understanding of its products. All full-time employees get access to join one Intrepid itinerary anywhere in the world each year.
  8. FullContact’s Use-It-Or-Lose-It Paid, Paid Vacation: FullContact offers employees up to $7,000 a year with one ask: actually take a vacation. No vacation, no stipend! Not only is this one of the most generous employee travel benefits around, it’s more like an employee travel mandate 🙂 Some people need that extra push to unplug, after all!

Which employee travel benefits do you have at your job, and which do you wish you had? What benefits are your biggest priority in your job search? Let me know in the comments below!

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Rachel Off Duty: Job Benefits to Look for If You Love to Travel
Rachel Off Duty: Job Benefits to Look for If You Love to Travel

Hey there! I’m Rachel, a travel writer and a full-time advertising / marketing expert. In 2019, I traveled more than 25 times while working 9 to 5, and since then I’ve committed myself to living a more adventurous life, even if it means bringing my laptop along for the ride.

Are you hungry to travel more, but overwhelmed with how to juggle work and play? You’ve come to the right place!

Recent Adventures:
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