New research highlights toll of business travel on mental health and a need for more support from employers

22.05.2024 - 11:57 / traveldailynews.com / Vicky Karantzavelou

Anxiety, stress, and exhaustion are common; travelers want more support from employers.

NEW YORK – A recent survey of North American business travelers reveals that for many, work-related travel is taking a toll on their mental health, leading to anxiety, stress, and exhaustion.

The new research – conducted by Opinium* and commissioned by World Travel Protection (WTP), a global leader in travel risk management – underscores the importance of companies addressing the well-being of employees during business trips, when disruptions to routines and physical distance from support systems like family and friends, as well as jet lag and time zone differences, can exacerbate mental health issues.

Here are five important takeaways:

Dr. Joel Lockwood, Regional Chief Medical Officer (Americas) at World Travel Protection, stresses the importance of supporting employees during business trips. “Organizations have an obligation to their employees when they’re away from home, both from a physical safety and mental health perspective,” says Dr. Lockwood. “Uncertainty and lack of support from employers can have a significant and detrimental impact on an employee’s mental well-being, potentially causing significant distress.”

He notes that travel risk management companies can support corporate travelers by providing pre-trip medical and country intelligence, which helps to set expectations before the trip. Other support may include encouraging daily family or next-of-kin video calls, downloading a wellness or meditation app to employees’ phones, and having a solid and well-communicated action plan in case of an emergency.

“Allowing for pre-travel workload discussions and giving employees opportunities to take a break during travel, where possible, are also crucial,” adds Dr. Lockwood. “Organizations that make a concerted effort to focus on their employees’ well-being while traveling maximize the benefits of business travel for both the employee and the company.”

*This release offers a snapshot of the attitudes and perceptions of business travelers from the US and Canada. Research was conducted by Opinium Research from February 1-8, 2024, amongst 1,000 adults who travel for business at least once a year in the US (500) and Canada (500).

Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various