Hush trips, defined as remote workers working from a location they did not inform their employers about, are becoming increasingly common, according to panellists on the Bleisure & Hush Trips: The Corporate Risk Dilemma session at IT&CM Asia and CTW APAC 2025 last week.
Jamon Ngoencharee, medical director, International SOS, shared that while bleisure trips are pre-approved and partly covered by travel insurance, hush trips leave companies in a difficult position.
In Thailand, duty of care obligations still apply to employees on hush trips if they are injured or fall ill abroad, even if the company has no knowledge of their travel, he pointed out.
Jamon also cited cases where employees were injured on hush trips, creating a liability dilemma, as employers may still be held responsible for the well-being of staff under occupational health and safety laws, despite the travel not being approved.
Cybersecurity is another risk factor, he added, as employees who take hush trips often rely on unsecured Wi-Fi in hotels or cafés to work.
Joann Toh, global travel manager, Amway, explained that although her company allowed staff to extend after business trips, hush trips were prohibited because of the higher risks involved.
To navigate this situation, clear policies and approval processes are essential, Toh noted, and that approved bleisure arrangements can support staff retention and work-life balance.
Elise Shen, senior solutions consultant at SAP Concur, said hush trips blur the lines of accountability.
Shen added that while employees on hush trips are expected to manage their own insurance and safety, companies may still face tax, legal, and compliance risks. This is because such employees can inadvertently trigger obligations under labour laws, immigration regulations, or tax regimes.
Jamon stated that hush trips will remain a “continuing battle between employee autonomy and organisational duty of care”, warning that employers must find ways to manage potential risks without alienating their workforce.
Shen agreed, and recommended that employers adopt integrated booking and risk management platforms to improve tracking of employees while maintaining respect on their privacy.
