The Pulse On… Travel Bugs

A ‘travel bug’ to an executive traveling for work is not exactly what we typically imagine this bug to be. Leisure travellers who caught their version of a ‘travel bug’ find themselves in perpetual wanderlust, chasing the next vacation and longing for a jet-setting life of fun. On the other hand, the bugs that executives traveling for work catch are typically bad ones. A recent study shows that executives who travelled for business for at least two weeks out of a month reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. They were also more likely to smoke, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and report insomnia than their counterparts who travel less. While the study shows us that we need to assume our responsibility, especially when it comes to diet, alcohol consumption, sleep and exercise, there is a lot more that needs to be done at employer level to empower their road warrior executives. In fact, an earlier research on the ‘darker side of hypermobility’ reveals how frequent business travel had negative long-term consequences on health, social and family life. According to research findings, while many business travelers want to reduce the amount of time they spend on business travel, they do so as they believe it is beyond their control. The difficulty is compounded when business travel is seen as a job benefit leading to career advancement and greater prospects. Interestingly, earlier research corroborates the conclusion of this recent one that organizations have to develop policies to protect their employees from the darker side of hypermobility. This could come in the form of a human capital paradigm shift on how business travel is administered at the employers’ level. Doing so requires going beyond the typical practice of providing immunization and medical evacuation services. Human capital specialists should look out for education/training – an emphasis on healthy business travel within the larger corporate culture – and top this off with accommodation options that give employees easy access to healthy food and activities. In that sense, although the business executive travel bug cannot be fully eliminated, its reach can be contained. Companies should not use a one-size-fits-all solution to cover as much ‘bug-infested’ ground as possible, but instead tailor travel solutions to each executive within a bandwidth of comfort, and without escalating travel costs. Once the right environment is fostered for business travel, executives can work within safe zones to plan their routes, maximize their travel efforts (and return on investment) without succumbing to the bug bite. It takes two hands to clap, and it behooves employers to make that first move, and for employees to meet them halfway by being proactive and taking responsibility.