TRAVELLER WELLBEING CONFERENCE HEALTHY OUTLOOK
The first Business Traveller Wellbeing Conference took place in London in April, where was media partner. Andy Hoskins reports
At the first event of its kind in the business travel industry, a diverse line-up of speakers delivered practical advice to help educate, inform and shape delegates’ corporate travel programmes.
“Wellbeing is no longer niche,” said Steve Dunne of Well Intelligence. “It is mainstream and it will change the way we talk about everything. The next generation of employees is joining the workforce and is being so much more demanding around wellbeing. And there is growing evidence that better wellbeing means a stronger economy.”
Andy Neilson of Twisted Orange shared his story of deteriorating mental health as a high-flying procurement professional, advising attendees to lookout for vulnerable people within their own organisations.
“I thought I was in control, a role model, confident and invincible… but in reality I was scared, miserable, unproductive and uncommunicative,” he said. “I was tired and exhausted all the time and I didn’t know who to talk to.”
Now on the road to recovery, he said:
“If you have business travellers in your organisation then there will be people there with problems. Unfortunately I don’t think the stigma of mental health will go so you have to build in the fact your travellers probably won’t ask for help.”
Matthew Holman of Simpila highlighted research that shows one in four adults will have a diagnosed mental illness each year, yet only 20% of business travellers with mental illness tell their employer. Holman said that in 20 years as a regular business traveller there were two questions he was never asked. “Firstly, nobody ever asked me if I was fit to travel – it was the expectation that you have to go. And secondly, nobody ever asked how I was when I got back.”
Meanwhile, sleep expert Rachel Mcguinness of Wake Up with zest said that some research has indicated that every time zone crossed during a flight equates to one day until you feel fully fit again, highlighting the impact of long-haul travel.