Features Benefits & Pensions Working Remotely
Toronto firm offers staff $3,000 travel benefit to help them work remote anywhere in the world

A Toronto-based communications agency is offering its employees up to $3,000 this year to help them work remotely from anywhere in the world.

It’s the second year in a row that Media Profile has offered the perk, which it calls the 3K Work Away Benefit, for its workers. It covers travel expenses, including transportation, accommodations and even short-term residential leases, it said.

“It is fantastic getting to see how excited people at Media Profile are around taking advantage of the Work Away benefit,” said Alison King, president at Media Profile. “There’s no limit to the creativity too – we’ve had employees conquer it completely solo to colleagues booking group trips and banding together. I think this really speaks to how supportive the culture is here at our agency.”

How the benefit works

The perk is available to everyone who’s worked at the agency for a minimum of six months. Staff have the flexibility to work anywhere in the world for up to one month, working in the Eastern time zone in their chosen destination.

Employees are also able to incorporate up to two weeks of vacation into their Work Aways, giving them the chance to unplug and explore during their time away, the company said.

Where did they go in 2022?

Last year, nearly one-half (47 per cent) of employees used the benefit. And the destinations varied wildly, from European favourites to beachy escapes to staying local. Some travelled solo, others reunited with relatives and some focused on their mental health. It all shows how far the benefit can stretch in helping employees connect to their own passions, it said.

“Solo travel has always been on my to-do list, but having just started my career, I assumed I would have to compromise this dream. I’d ask myself, can I afford to spend significant time away? Would I have to sacrifice a job I love for an experience I’ve always wanted?,” said Max Vanderkooy, consultant at Media Profile, who took his workaway to the Netherlands. “MP’s Benefit gave me the opportunity to satisfy my desire for travel without ever worrying it was at the cost of my career.” To the excitement of colleagues Max added a surprise of his own, proposing to his now fiancée while on workcation.

To the excitement of colleagues Vanderkooy added a surprise of his own, proposing to his now fiancée while on workcation, the company said.

Media Profile bills itself as an independent, employee-owned, full-service public relations and creative agency based in Toronto.