What is the Impact of Business Travel on Mental Wellbeing?

According to a recent study, 88% of small
business owners enjoy business travel. However, since this study, the world
has changed significantly with new guidelines in place for travel due to
Covid-19.

The thought of returning to work for
those who travel frequently for business can be daunting. However Forbes highlights how
business travel won’t be killed by Covid-19, but will return with changes in
place that will mostly focus on shorter travel.

Before Covid-19, business travel was
firmly on the agenda as a workplace mental health issue. In fact, it can have
serious implications for people’s health and mental wellbeing.

A study conducted by the International
SOS Foundation has revealed that business trips contribute to behavioural
changes in people in the workplace. These include depression, stress and
anxiety.

With the advancement in technology
making accessibility to work whilst travelling easier, many workers treat their
business trips as an office on the go. This has reduced the necessary downtime
needed for employees to switch off and look after themselves.

However, there is also considerable
stress involved in the process of travelling and being on the road a lot of the
time. Losing luggage, delayed flights and being away from loved ones are a few
of the factors that contribute to bad experiences during business travel.

International Business Travel and
Mental Health

In a previous study based on the
correlation between business travel and mental wellbeing, 200 business
travellers were interviewed and 45% said they felt more stressed on business
trips, while 31% felt emotionally exhausted. Over a quarter of respondents said
they experienced more prevalent mental health issues such as anxiety and
depression.

Along with the stress of fulfilling
your role whilst on the road, the stress that comes with travel and the lack of
downtime, there are also physical health implications to business travel.

With the likelihood of shorter
travelling distances as Covid-19 restrictions ease, the frequency of travel
could increase. With more travelling, it becomes harder to follow a balanced
diet or get much exercise and good quality sleep.

However, business travel is often
deemed as essential for meetings, training, entertaining clients and winning
new business. The problem is that while international business travel opens up
opportunities, it also comes at a cost to wellbeing.

Safeguarding Health and Business
Continuity

In recent years, the importance of a work-life balance has been emphasised, highlighting the importance of disconnecting from work. This springs the question what measures can organisations and companies take to try and safeguard employees who are travelling on their behalf? Did you know? you can now download gbwhatsapp from your phone. Check out softgoza for more information.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
is clear about the measures for tackling stress, and about the impact stress
can have, with over 11 million days a year lost through stress in the
workplace.

But how does stress risk management
translate to business travel?

There are various stress factors
associated with business travel.

Some of these are common to other work
situations, including sudden, unexpected workloads, unclear reporting lines and
responsibilities, and rapidly changing circumstances.

However, they may also suffer from
specific, travel-related stress factors, including: a lack of peer support, or
other support network; isolation from family and friends; and jet lag.

These factors also include lack of
sleep, lack of exercise and poor diet, as mentioned above.

Symptoms of poor mental health can
appear as impaired performance, poor concentration and erratic emotional
behaviour.

Better Support for Business Travellers

During this uncertain time, business
travellers need more support to ensure mental wellbeing is considered during
the return of business travel. It is important that more organisations consider
implementing procedures aimed at reducing the mental health risks of business
travellers.

This year, the mental wellbeing of
remote workers has become much more widely recognised as people adjusted to
social distancing and working from home. Along with this and the increase of
mental wellbeing in the workplace, the impact of business-related travel needs
careful consideration.

There are internal measures businesses
and organisations can take to support employees, such as wellness programmes
and resilience training, counselling and regular employee surveys.

However, they should also consider the
conditions and quality of business travel, and what practical support there is
to improve the business travel experience to reduce an impact on mental
wellbeing.

One such area of dedicated support is executive car
services, providing expert business and chauffeur class transfers.

Here, the focus is on ensuring passengers get all the support they need to reduce any stress and remove the uncertainties and inconvenience associated with business travel, with all the precautions in place to make travel safe.

Travel Is So Important It’s the Most Popular Use of Equity Release 

Did you know that travel is such an important factor of mental health that it’s one of the most popular uses of equity release? In fact it’s actually the second most popular use of cash that people have released from their homes when they’ve retired.