Temporary Work in Another Location
Check where, how long and what you will be doing before you make plans.
Most short-term location changes come down to three questions: where you want to work, for how long, and what work you will do there. Your answers decide who needs to be involved, so settle them before you book travel or tell your team.
This page uses a fictional company, Northstar Works, with offices at Harbor and Ridge, to show how the questions play out. Location rules differ by country, site and role, so always follow the approved local guidance that applies to you. This page does not grant approval or create an entitlement, and it is not for permanent relocation or international assignments.
Two paths, side by side
Illustrative examples for Northstar Works. The thresholds shown are samples, not rules; your local guidance sets the real ones.
| Details | Brief visit to another company office | Longer stay, or a different jurisdiction |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | A few days within one working week | Beyond the local short-stay limit, or open-ended |
| Destination | A company office, such as Harbor or Ridge | A home, rental or office in another region or country |
| Typical work | Planned sessions, team days, in-person collaboration | Your regular role carried out from the new place |
| Ask first | Your manager, then the site's workplace team | People Operations and the local owner for that jurisdiction |
| Have ready | Dates, purpose, meeting schedule | Dates, address, reason, and what work you will perform |
| Pause point | The dates grow, or the visit changes purpose | Do not start until the reviewers have responded |
Worked example: three days at Harbor
A product analyst based at Ridge wants to join planned project sessions at Harbor, and then considers staying longer.
"I would like to work from Harbor Tuesday to Thursday next month to attend the three planning sessions in person, then return to Ridge." It names the destination, the dates and the reason.
The analyst reads the approved guidance for the Harbor site and asks the workplace team whether the dates and the reason fit. Both are within the sample short-visit path, so no further review is needed.
They agree core hours, which recurring meetings will be attended remotely or in person, and who covers the Ridge support queue on Wednesday.
The analyst asks for a desk at Harbor for the three days and checks that their laptop, charger and access card will work there. They plan to bring only what they usually carry.
After the sessions, the analyst is asked to remain at Harbor for two more weeks. The purpose and length have changed, so the plan goes back to the manager and People Operations for review before the extra dates are treated as agreed.
A teammate proposes working a week from family abroad. Different jurisdictions can raise tax, legal and security questions, so they pause and ask People Operations before they book anything.
Approval questions
Practical answers to settle before you ask.
What should I work out first?
The destination, the first and last dates, and the work you plan to do there. Everything else, including who reviews the request, depends on these three.
Why do duration and destination matter so much?
Local guidance often treats a few days at a company office differently from a longer stay or a stay in a different region or country. If your plan falls into the second group, expect more reviewers and more lead time.
What should I discuss with my manager?
Your dates, your core working hours, which meetings you will attend and how, who covers your responsibilities, and anything that depends on you being in the usual place. Agree these in writing so your team can see them.
I am not sure whether my plan needs a review. What do I do?
Treat it as undecided and ask before you commit. Raise it with your manager and People Operations, or the local owner named in your approved guidance, and describe the destination, dates and work in the same way you would for a request.
Can I assume that my manager's yes covers everything?
No. A manager can agree to your availability and coverage, but they may not be the person who decides on location, jurisdiction or workspace questions. Ask who else needs to be involved, and wait for each answer.
What if the plan changes after I have confirmed it?
Tell your manager and the people who arranged your workspace as soon as you know. A change in dates, destination or purpose may need the earlier checks to be repeated.
Equipment and availability
Points to cover with your manager and the people who run the destination site.
Workspace
- Ask the site's workplace team for a desk or room for each date
- Check what days the building is staffed and how visitors get in
- Note where your team will sit for planned sessions
Equipment and access
- List what you will bring: laptop, charger, headset, access card
- Test remote sign-in and any special access before you leave
- Ask IT early if you need a different network or a loaner device
Availability
- Post your core hours and any time-zone difference in your team calendar
- Name a person who covers your queue or decisions
- Mark which meetings you will join in person and which remotely
Confirm arrangements
A checklist to complete before the first day.
Arrangements are confirmed only when the responsible people have agreed to them. Until then, treat your plan as a proposal.
- Dates and destination: first day, last day and location are written down and match what each reviewer was told.
- Reviews: you know which reviews applied to your plan, and each reviewer has responded.
- Hours and meetings: your core hours and in-person or remote attendance are in your team calendar.
- Coverage: a named colleague has agreed to cover your responsibilities on the relevant days.
- Workspace, access and equipment: the destination site has acknowledged your desk request, and you have tested your sign-in.
- Changes: you know who to tell, usually your manager and the site's workplace team, if dates or purpose change.
If any item is still open the day before you travel, pause and ask your manager how to proceed.