A major part of the global travel industry that has grown rapidly in recent years is corporate travel. With an increasing number of countries becoming central hubs for international business, the numbers of people travelling abroad for work continues to rise. As more and more people taking to the skies, corporate travel agencies and corporate businesses are under increasing pressure to modernise their practices in order to meet the needs of travellers on a tight business schedule. The cost of global travel has reached over £160 billion in 2017 for Western Europeans alone. It’s also an area that the majority of employees are happy to participate in, with 90% expressing excitement at the prospect of a new business trip and 75% considering a business trip an adventure.
However, alongside the opportunity to visit somewhere new and enjoy a change of scenery from the office, also comes time away from home, disrupted sleeping patterns and lengthy commutes. While statistics might show that corporate travel can be a positive experience for employees in many ways, it can also present workers with a number of challenges. In order to stand out from their competitors and ensure consistent employee satisfaction, it is essential for employers to make adjustments to support their staff when travelling internationally for business. Ben Edwards, a self-confidence expert and life coach, has experience assisting corporate companies with concerns such as these and has offered his four best tips for employees supporting their workers through international travel. Provide cultural knowledge Employees travelling internationally are likely to be met with a number of cultural differences, both in the office and outside of it. It’s essential that you provide your employees with country specific knowledge to help them prepare for their trip and avoid any nasty surprises. Working in a foreign country can be stressful and unfamiliar and having to adjust to cultural practices that employees didn’t even know about can make it even more of a challenge. So, whether it be informing your employees that if they’re headed to China everyone will be taking lunch at 11am or letting them know the best times to get on the Subway in New York, make sure your employees are as prepared as they can be. Food and accommodation If an employee is staying abroad for a few nights, it’s important they feel comfortable and have the opportunity to rest. Fatigue and unhealthy habits can be disastrous for productivity and unfortunately these can increase when travelling internationally. Providing accommodation that will allow your employees to relax and giving them a food allowance ensures that your employees are prepared for the working days ahead. Family support If someone is frequently travelling abroad for work, it can put a significant amount of pressure on their family at home. It can be disruptive to family life and can also be a source of anxiety for children and partners. Showing your employees that you care about their welfare and can offer the right support if needed can put concerns at ease. It will make employees more likely to let you know if they are facing any difficulties due to international travel. Individual support Just as corporate companies offer support for physical problems that might be sustained at work, such as a bad back and other health issues, it’s essential that companies offer or show employees where to get emotional support if they are feeling the impacts of regularly travelling overseas. Staying in unfamiliar places can generate feelings of loneliness and isolation, while they are also more likely to suffer from exhaustion. When workers return to the office, it’s important they have someone to discuss this with ahead of their next trip. Make sure you support and take care of your traveling employees and make their travel planning simpler by using a corporate travel expert, like TravelManor, to take care of the nitty-gritty of business travel. Article source: http://hrnews.co.uk/four-tips-to-support-your-employees-through-international-business-travel/
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