It’s no secret that business travel can take a toll – from the time spent making arrangements to the time spent away from home.
Younger employees especially say that a good work-life balance is important to them, and a company’s travel policy is a factor in deciding whether they’ll take a job or how satisfied they feel with their current employer.
Indeed, studies increasingly make a connection between satisfaction while traveling for work and an employee’s overall job satisfaction. A study last year by the Global Business Travel Association reported that nearly 80 percent of business travelers say that their experience while on the road impacts their overall job satisfaction. Among millennials, the number jumps to nearly 90 percent.
If travel is a part of your business, then crafting a travel policy that works for both employers and employees is crucial. While cost is understandably a driving factor, making your travel policy employee-friendly will help you attract and retain good workers. And that’s good for the bottom line. Think of it as an investment in building and keeping a quality workforce for years to come.
Employers can ensure that their travel policy meets the company’s needs, as well as the needs of their workers, by using the services of a corporate travel agent who specializes in business travel.
A big benefit that a travel agent provides is streamlining the booking process, making it quick and convenient. Employees don’t need to spend valuable time working their way through complicated systems to choose flights, transportation and hotels when there are experts who do it for a living.
Companies can also work with their corporate travel agent at a travel management company to give employees a reasonable range of options. Having options sends a clear signal to your valued staff that they have a say in their business travel needs.
For example, with their deep knowledge of airports and airlines, a corporate travel agent can work with a client to reduce or eliminate layovers on business trips so that more time is devoted to core business endeavors than waiting at a terminal.
Airport lounge memberships and upgrades for extra legroom are small things that can go a long way toward employee satisfaction. When it comes to hotels, even a small bump up to a higher-tier property can make a big difference in an employee’s comfort and an employer’s duty of care. The greater flexibility can prove beneficial to your business if it means a better travel experience. And for employees, a better travel experience increases employee retention.
One of the most important ways in which a corporate travel agent can help boost job satisfaction is by giving employees peace of mind. Employees know that when they’re away on business there’s someone they can call 24/7 if they have a problem – whether it’s a delayed or canceled flight or the need to switch hotels or extend their stay.
For help planning a business trip or managing your corporate travel policy, contact Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited.