Ensuring the well-being of your business travelers helps your business in various ways. After all, your most precious asset is your workforce. They are the face of your business while they travel. Forcing those employees to catch early morning flights or stay in sub-par motels with inappropriate accommodations may have a negative influence on how your organization is perceived.
When your corporate travel program strives to reduce the impact of business travel on your staff, you are safeguarding your most valuable asset.
Frequent work travel can induce stress and burnout, especially for those who travel more than two weeks each month. Employees who burn out might become discouraged and depressed and experience work discontent and disengagement, which can result in higher overturn costing you time and money to replace them.
Support and Information Increases Traveler Well-Being
Sending staff on business trips without adequate support and information might make them fail. According to Amadeus, some employees felt their company did not actively encourage traveler well-being.
Another survey found that just 44% of individuals traveling internationally for their company were provided real-time security information, and 43% only had information related to tracking their trip. In addition, these employees believed their employers were unconcerned about their well-being.
Tips to convey dedication to a healthy culture for business travelers:
- Hold training sessions for travelers to go through company policies on emergencies.
- Have travelers update their health information and emergency contacts regularly.
- Verify business and personal travel itineraries.
- Allow travelers to rebook their flights in case of a delay or cancellation through the company’s travel specialists to reduce travel stress.
- Review your business policies for necessary updates annually, including your travel policy.
- Provide your staff with the necessary support and communication to show you care.
Create a Travel Policy Keeping Health and Well-Being in Mind
Travelers’ well-being suffers when an organization’s travel policy is unorganized and only benefits the company. This can also increase expenses for businesses due to an increase in illness and medical claims, reduced performance and productivity, absenteeism, and short-term disability.
To keep travelers happy, you must be adaptable and modify policies to accommodate traveler needs. These changes will help your business retain good team members. In a study, 84% of employees traveling for business said that an appealing travel policy was crucial to them. In addition, 83% said their company travel policy was almost as important as income. Therefore, considering traveler well-being when developing your travel policy is vital to staff retention and recruiting.
Non-Stop Flights and Private Flights
Now that we understand the significance of a travel-friendly business policy, what should every business include to benefit travelers? Booking non-stop flights or private flights as the preferred method of travel is the most recommended strategy to reduce travel friction. Higher-quality alternatives for accommodations, permitting business-class travel on lengthy flights, and offering PTO following long business trips are next on the list.
Book Travel Accommodations that are Comfortable and Safe
Finding accommodations that positively impact business travelers can make a significant difference regarding traveler well-being. For example, hotels with unpleasant or restricted options cause travelers to seek out unhealthy dining options, experience frustration, and, in some circumstances, may lead travelers to drink heavily. Simply put, inadequate accommodations can lead to burnout.
Employees who experience burnout due to their travel schedules are more prone to participate in risky activities than at home. In addition, burnout might necessitate a lengthy rehabilitation time. Therefore, it is vital to provide clean and comfortable accommodations for travelers so they may feel refreshed for their business responsibilities during their travels.
When booking hotels, look for amenities that will better support their health and well-being:
- Meeting and conference rooms are easily accessible.
- Fitness centers, pools, or reimbursement for gym memberships.
- Healthy food options available on-site or nearby.
- Services available 24/7
- Amenities such as a health spa and massage
The environment you are in creates demands on life. The well-being of your team is essential, so make sure to consider travel needs for a better work-life balance.
Include Days off or Free Time During Corporate Business Travel
Consider including time for “business leisure” or “business vacation” to improve traveler well-being. Your staff can take these days before or after a business trip as personal days, which might help encourage them and enhance productivity. In addition, because business travel decreases personal time, incorporating a few days of leisure into your travel policy will help your team achieve more balance in work and their personal life, leading to improved well-being.
Your team may also benefit from this form of business travel when traveling internationally to places they may not visit otherwise. Some businesses may even consider paying for business travelers’ excursions while traveling. Consider the following to incorporate business leisure into your company:
- Allow workers to take PTO if their outbound or return flight is on a less expensive travel day.
- If employees are willing to finance travel insurance and other changes to travel that raise travel costs, consider providing business leisure opportunities.
- Establish and specify business leisure travel obligations, such as duty of care, tracking expenses, communication, and travel arrangements.
- Allow employees to travel with a self-paid companion to enjoy leisure time and interact with family or friends.
- Use business leisure travel to reward employees who save your company money by adhering to corporate travel regulations.
Even though some businesses have yet to implement business leisure travel, ultimately, it is a win-win for employers and employees. Companies may preserve their most valuable assets, handle issues before they develop, and reap the financial rewards of their support by giving guidance and extending protection to staff on business leisure trips.
Assist Your Staff in Staying Current on Health Information
In recent years, travel has necessitated staying on top of ever-changing federal regulations relating to health. Provide this information to your travelers to alleviate any concerns they may have when they resume their travels.
A business traveler may securely navigate their travels with your company’s support.
- Stay up to date on travel restrictions, health and safety standards, and travel news.
- Check the CDC’s travel webpage. It contains traveler tips, a disease directory, and answers to frequently asked questions that will be helpful to your travelers.
- Provide training to your travelers. Ensure they understand that all medications must be in their carry-on bag in their original bottles to avoid problems with unlabeled medication. Create a list of suggested travel products to bring, such as hand sanitizer, masks if required, antihistamines, digestive aids, or medications for seasickness if necessary. Provide health tips on healthy eating and staying hydrated.
- Encourage your travelers to keep their immunizations up to date, such as flu shots or other vaccinations required by the country in which they are traveling. Vaccinations are necessary for entry into some countries and will safeguard your employees.
Happy Traveling!
We hope you found this article helpful in ensuring the well-being of your business travelers. Your employees are the foundation of your business. When your employees are happy and not stressed, they can focus on their business responsibilities, which, in turn, means a more fruitful bottom line for your business. So, make sure you review your travel policies regularly. At Impressions in Flight, we love everything travel related and are dedicated to providing the best corporate aviation travel products. For more information on our products, visit our online store! Happy travels!