ResumeBuilder.com Survey Finds 1 in 6 Generation Z Workers Used a Virtual Background to Fool Employers While Taking a ‘Hush Trip’

Forty-four percent of Gen Z workers have taken ‘hush trips,’ where they work from a vacation destination without disclosing to their employers

ResumeBuilder.com, the premier resource for professional resume templates and career advice, has published a recent survey report that examines the prevalence of taking ‘hush trips’ among remote or hybrid Gen Z workers. The report also shares insight into the reasons why workers take ‘hush trips’ and the consequences of them. The survey garnered responses from 918 Gen Zers who currently work remotely or hybrid.    

Based on survey results, 44 percent of Gen Zers surveyed say they have taken a vacation without their employer’s permission. Of this group, 57 percent say they gave the impression that they were still working normal hours even when they were not. In fact, 4 percent say they worked less than one hour, 28 percent say 1 to 2 hours, 30 percent say 3 to 4 hours, and 23 percent say 5 to 6 hours. Only 14 percent say they worked seven or more hours. Additionally, of employees who tried to keep up the appearance of working a full day, 65 percent say they used a virtual background to fool their employer.

Survey results also highlight the reasons why workers took ‘hush trips.’ Of those who took an undisclosed trip, 51 percent say they did so because their ‘PTO request was not approved,’ 27 percent say they ‘had no PTO to use,’ and 20 percent say they ‘didn’t want to use PTO.’ Among all hush trip takers, 41 percent say their employer found out, 45 percent say their employer did not, and 14 percent are unsure. Of those who were discovered, 71 percent say they were reprimanded, and 7 percent say they were fired.