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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To WFH while on holiday abroad so I don’t use up holiday entitlement?

261 replies

RaspberryFarfait · 08/05/2022 12:43

We have already have a big holiday booked this year and DH also wants to spend a month in his home country with his parents during the summer holidays.

He doesn’t WFH, so will use all holiday entitlement, but I do. Colleague is also on leave for some of that time so I wouldn’t normally be able to be off as need to cover.

WIBU to not book holiday, travel over there and work as normal, without telling work. I only work part time and it’s certainly doable.

Only problem is will I be able to log in remotely from abroad? Has anyone done this?

Don’t want to ask work yet as they’ll cotton on!

OP posts:
HennesAndMoritz · 08/05/2022 14:05

Get permission from your line manager, lots of us WFH in another country during summer..

Lipsandlashes · 08/05/2022 14:05

Zazdar · 08/05/2022 12:54

It used to be common where I work but about a year ago we told that it was no longer allowed. It creates tax complications, apparently.

Exactly the same where I work. It has massive tax implications.

Gudbrand · 08/05/2022 14:05

You have to get the ok from your employer for this.
The site you need to use to log in might be blocked in the country you are going to. I live in Central Europe and there are plenty of UK sites we cannot access at all.
You need to check that the internet connection is good enough and not dead slow stop, and not a limited number of GB per month.

Ellmau · 08/05/2022 14:06

I think you need to ask, and if they say no, either take annual leave or don't go with your DH.

mackthepony · 08/05/2022 14:07

Totally fine

Alfiemoon1 · 08/05/2022 14:07

You need to speak to your employer in my previous job which was permanently wfh someone went on holiday worked and got sacked as it was against company policy due to lack of internet security in that country

Bigoldhag · 08/05/2022 14:12

My work know the minute your laptop/phone connects to a foreign network which country you are in. You’d be disciplined, possibly sacked. don’t do it. Make it a formal request.

we have a high proportion of non-british staff, so its possible there are measures in place to spot this as we are more likely to have this issue crop up. We’re not allowed to take work equipment out of the country, but i know exceptions have been made for some (such as visiting a parent when they are terminally ill etc).

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 08/05/2022 14:12

BrightonBunny
I wouldn't bother telling employer. I don't think it's their business if it's just for a month.

Except it is their business as they are paying her and it's on company time.
Interesting to see so many are happy being deceitful even by omission.
Why not be truthful, it's such that spoils it and gives a bad name to wfh.

Figgygal · 08/05/2022 14:15

Yes yabu to do that especially without telling your employer as it would breach the trust they have in you working from home
Its not as simple as just switching on over there .....
Data security
Right to work
Creation of a taxable entity if your employer doesn't have a presence in that country
All low risk issues but real issues and employers who just allow this without thinking it through are just daft

The wfh revolution is great but its also not a free for all for employees

transformandriseup · 08/05/2022 14:15

I was going work from abroad last year for one day to process the company payroll but no way would I do it for longer. It wouldn't feel like a holiday if there was work involved and it may ruin working from home for others.

Figgygal · 08/05/2022 14:16

Phos · 08/05/2022 13:00

Don’t you need to have right to work in the destination country though?

Show quote history

Yes you should have right to work in spain which thanks to brexit we no longer have

TheKeatingFive · 08/05/2022 14:22

I wouldn't bother telling employer. I don't think it's their business if it's just for a month.

It really, really is their business. Which you would find out the hard way if you got sacked for it.

redskyatnight · 08/05/2022 14:22

YABU for all the reasons already mentioned. It would be fine if your employer agrees, but I'm assuming you're not asking, because you think that they won't.

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 08/05/2022 14:30

A previous org let a senior manager work from the States for months while caring for her dying parents. (2 separate trips. Each time around 3-4 months)

I was SO proud of that organisation.

Ask. Be open, honest, transparent and make sure you deliver on anything you have committed to.

Every successful, honest example paves the way for others.

If you do get to do it work really hard, do all your hours.

Good luck, hope you get the chance to do this.

Eastlyne · 08/05/2022 14:33

Loads of people do this, just check it's okay.

Eastlyne · 08/05/2022 14:34

Yes you should have right to work in spain which thanks to brexit we no longer have Really? For a short break, whilst employed by an organisation outside the country and maintaining residence elsewhere? Wish I could be bothered to google it cos that sounds unlikely to me.

RomeoOscarXrayIndigoEcho · 08/05/2022 14:35

In 2020 (first week we were allowed to go anywhere in Scotland due to Covid regs) I went away with my family within Scotland. They were having a lovely time. I was attending a conference (remotely)!

Good internet made it no different if I joined the conference remotely or from the island we were on.

I secured permission first.

Branleuse · 08/05/2022 14:36

my dp WFH and he has done this loads of times. In fact its pretty annoying at times, when I want to do things but he has to work, but if youre only PT anyway, I think it would give you a welcome break from his family.
Sometimes as a compromise my DP will book to only work mornings when on holiday so after lunch we can still do things and he still saves lots of holiday this way

AnneElliott · 08/05/2022 14:38

You will definitely need to get permission. We're not allowed to take laptops abroad because of the security risk (civil service) so it would be a no from us.

Nanny0gg · 08/05/2022 14:41

RaspberryFarfait · 08/05/2022 12:43

We have already have a big holiday booked this year and DH also wants to spend a month in his home country with his parents during the summer holidays.

He doesn’t WFH, so will use all holiday entitlement, but I do. Colleague is also on leave for some of that time so I wouldn’t normally be able to be off as need to cover.

WIBU to not book holiday, travel over there and work as normal, without telling work. I only work part time and it’s certainly doable.

Only problem is will I be able to log in remotely from abroad? Has anyone done this?

Don’t want to ask work yet as they’ll cotton on!

Whose wifi will you be using?

Most tech teams would have an issue I think

Nanny0gg · 08/05/2022 14:43

mackthepony · 08/05/2022 14:07

Totally fine

No. It really isn't

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 08/05/2022 14:47

It's no good any poster saying it's fine for them to work abroad. That's irrelevant. Each company will have their own rules of working abroad. My company is an international company but working abroad is a no no due to security and tax ramifications. You have to raise it with your manager and see. They are the only ones who can tell you if it's fine. IT can easily see when someone logs in from abroad and will more than likely notify the manager just in case it's a security breach.

Tediumincarnate · 08/05/2022 14:53

If you are in the U.K. and travelling outside the U.K. you cannot do this for HMRC tax reasons

Your IT department will likely report you to your department management

I’ve experienced team members doing this on the quiet and they’ve got into trouble for it.

Tediumincarnate · 08/05/2022 14:57

@PeacockPartyTime NHS and civil service definitely not allowed to do this as they don’t have registered tax offices in these countries. Absolutely not ok and hope you get reported! Sorry not being mean but it’s illegal to do this.

PeacockPartyTime · 08/05/2022 14:59

Tediumincarnate · 08/05/2022 14:57

@PeacockPartyTime NHS and civil service definitely not allowed to do this as they don’t have registered tax offices in these countries. Absolutely not ok and hope you get reported! Sorry not being mean but it’s illegal to do this.

Please don't have a go at me and did you read my post? Our line managers said it was ok. We'll have to ask them then.

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