Over one-third of business travelers want the flexibility to work from anywhere. More than a quarter say bleisure (part business, part leisure) trips are better for well-being and productivity.
Business travelers hoping to combine their next work trip with a few days of personal travel, or work remotely from a summer beach destination, should first check to see if their employer has a policy to guide and support them. Chances are, they may be out of luck, especially in the event of an emergency.
A new Opinium survey* of North American business travelers commissioned by World Travel Protection, a leading global travel risk management organization, reveals that while many want the flexibility of working from anywhere (US 38%, Can 34%), few say that their company has a clear policy on where they can (and can’t) work from (US 24%, Can 21%). Even fewer say their company has a policy on “bleisure” travel, (US 23%, Can 17%), leaving most of these travelers without critical guidance around how to manage risk and access support while away.
“Bleisure and work-from-anywhere company cultures that came to prominence during the pandemic have blurred the lines between what is work and what is not, leaving both employees and employers that much more vulnerable to risk,” said Frank Harrison, Regional Security Director Americas, World Travel Protection. “Whether employees are working remotely from a new country or simply from a local coffee shop, businesses need to be more focused than ever on duty of care and negligence.”
According to the survey, at least a quarter of business travelers say they have recently combined a work trip with a few days or more of personal time (US 32%, Can 25%), with many indicating that it’s better for their well-being and productivity if a work trip also allows personal days (US 36%, Can 25%).
A number of business travelers say they would quit their jobs if they couldn’t work from anywhere (US 17%, 11%). A small but significant subset of workers report planning a “hush” trip this year, where they’ll work remotely in a different place and not tell their employer (US 15%, Can 9%).
“There’s no doubt that employees have a growing appetite for bleisure travel and the opportunity to work remotely from a new location,” said Harrison. “Employers should educate employees on what is covered during business trips and how that extends – if it extends – into the leisure portion. We encourage employers to also ensure measures are put in place to reduce and avert risks during the portion of the trip they’re covering.”
The world has changed because of the pandemic – destinations have changed, natural disasters are on the rise, and organizations face heighted threats to employee health, data and cyber security, and business continuity and reputation. Travelers need more guidance and support than ever, and business travel policies should include medical protocols, emergency and crisis management plans, and guidance on business versus personal expense compliance.
“Business travelers today have a much higher need for education and guidance, including knowing how to communicate in an emergency when in a different location,” said Harrison. “Companies need to approach employees’ growing desire to ‘work from anywhere’ through a risk-management lens. Failure to do so may expose them to significant incident causation and loss, impacting personnel, reputation, and liability.”
“Businesses and organizations, in their approach to the duty of care, should focus on providing travel and risk solutions that support travelers with tools to give travelers the confidence to stay informed,” he concludes.
*Data presented here offers a snapshot of the attitudes and perceptions of business travelers from the US and Canada on corporate travel and personal safety in 2023. Research was conducted by Opinium Research from January 2 – February 2, 2023, amongst 1,000 adults who travel for business at least once a year in the US (500) and Canada (500).
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
