51% of business travellers don’t feel protected when travelling internationally and are ready to leave their roles if support does not improve.
Global travel and operational risk firm, Anvil Group, has revealed worrying findings about the failings of many organisations to support their globally mobile workforces and warns that companies need to address fundamental flaws in their travel risk programmes if they’re to retain key personnel and deliver vital post-pandemic business growth.
Interviewing over 500 frequent travellers at large global US and European firms to understand the effect that global mobility has on those employees who play a pivotal role in the future success of their organisations, some startling facts came to light:
- Only 28% of respondents said they were fully able to perform at their best while away on business;
- 56% believed this lack of performance adversely affects their international projects;
- Just 39% of respondents thought that their travel technology was fit for purpose;
- Alarmingly, 63% felt they were not fully prepared to take quick action and return to safety, or to recover emotionally, when incidents happen;
- 51% said they are ready to leave if support doesn’t improve.
Prior to the pandemic, the ‘Dynamic Workforce’ – a term coined by Anvil Group to describe this highly mobile group of employees – routinely worked worldwide on pivotal projects, establishing essential overseas operations, forging cross-border relationships and winning business in new markets. As such, they will be among the first to return to business travel and international assignments as restrictions start to ease.
Given the nature of their roles, the Dynamic Workforce are used to experiencing security, travel, service and medical incidents while away on business, yet the survey reveals that their organisations are routinely failing to provide them with the support they need to succeed – to the detriment of personal performance and their organisations’ growth prospects.
Matthew Judge, Group Managing Director, Anvil Group: “As restrictions ease, the immediate focus for many will understandably be on dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and how to navigate a safe return to travel from a logistical perspective. However, the results of our survey are a stark reminder that organisations need to address some fundamental flaws in their broader travel risk management programmes and the ongoing support provided to key personnel.”
He continues: “The Dynamic Workforce provide an outsized contribution to their organisations’ success, helping to grow revenues, defend market positions and protect profit margins. The impact of their lack of confidence in travel risk programmes is clear, and the failings in the care they receive are significantly impacting their ability to deliver. If organisations are to build future resilience and ensure that they’re fit for growth in a post-pandemic world, it’s vital that these issues are addressed.”
Based on the survey findings and including commentary and insight from a panel of workplace resilience experts, Anvil Group has published a toolkit to help organisations better support their globally mobile workforces and (re)build their travel risk programme for growth in a post-pandemic world.
The toolkit includes a report which sets out to increase understanding of:
- The travel risk support that the Dynamic Workforce requires
- How they rate the care that they receive
- The gaps between the two
The report is accompanied by a free diagnostic tool that evaluates the effectiveness of travel risk programmes, benchmarking them against the views of the Dynamic Workforce. It will help travel managers to uncover potential gaps in their programmes and identify accelerators that will enable them to better support their globally mobile personnel.
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.
