The time is ripe for employers to review their approaches to business travel, recommends FREENOW Ireland general manager Charlie Gleeson.
In recent years, following the Covid-19 pandemic, the transition to remote working and the ongoing importance of business practices that support the environment, the ways that employers approach business-related transport and create travel policies face new challenges and opportunities.
New research from YouGov and FREENOW sheds light on emerging trends and preferences among employees when it comes to business travel, with one such trend emerging as ‘bleisure’ travel – the concept of combining ‘business’ and ‘leisure’ on working trips.
“By embracing ‘bleisure’ and prioritising sustainability, companies can create a travel policies that not only motivates employees but also aligns with company values and strategy, contributing to a brighter future”
Coupled with the growing imperative of sustainability, the time is ripe for employers to review their approaches to business travel and consider updating their policies not only to benefit employees and business, but also the environment.
Why ‘bleisure’ matters
‘Bleisure’ travel isn’t just about integrating leisure opportunities into business trips; it’s about fostering a culture of work-life balance and employee wellbeing.
“Employees who are given the opportunity to blend personal time with business travel can return to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated”
Our recent research, in partnership with YouGov of 500+ employees in Ireland who regularly travel for work, reveals that the vast majority (84%) express a desire to incorporate ‘bleisure’ into their business trips.
This trend isn’t surprising considering the numerous benefits it offers, from increased employee satisfaction to enhanced productivity.
Employees who are given the opportunity to blend personal time with business travel can return to work feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Bleisure also fosters employee attraction and retention, higher engagement levels, better performance, and it strengthens relationships and trust.
As part of this research, we asked employees in Ireland how their company could support and facilitate ‘bleisure’ travel opportunities, and over half (53%) claimed that being able to avail of ‘bleisure’ travel in a clear and transparent way is crucial. The key takeaway here for employers is to acknowledge the demand for ‘bleisure’ and create clear guidelines and protocols for its effective adoption.
With the right guidelines in place ‘bleisure’ travel has the potential to support positive work/life balance and boost staff wellbeing without becoming an exclusive privilege for some employees or a burden for management to oversee.
In Ireland, our survey also revealed that 21% of participants have admitted to being unclear or unaware of their company’s current travel policy. This highlights the importance of effective communication and clarity surrounding travel guidelines to ensure all employees are informed and compliant.
How to integrate ‘bleisure’ into travel policies
To effectively integrate ‘bleisure’ into travel policies and create an approach that supports a positive work-life blend for staff, employers could benefit from taking on board the following practical tips:
- Empower Open Communication: Employers should encourage open discussions with senior leadership teams and employees more broadly about ‘bleisure’ travel, and adopt a policy that reflects their views and preferences.
- Encourage Informed Choices: Provide detailed information about the destinations and available activities related to business trip requirements. By equipping employees with useful information, they can better plan their personal time and make the most of their leisure time once working components of the trip are complete.
- Offer Incentives & Discounts: To incentivise participation in ‘bleisure’ travel, employers can consider a range of incentives and packages. These could include special ‘bleisure’-focused travel packages, deals on local attractions and experiences, or companies could also allocate a transport budget to cover short trip expenses, making it easier for employees to explore their destinations. For example, FREENOW across Europe offers employees a Mobility Budget, which allows them to use a designated allowance on different transport modes including taxis, e-bikes, e-scooters, and more. This approach not only supports employee wellbeing but also promotes sustainable travel options.
- Clearly Communicate Guidelines: Make sure your employees are notified of your ‘bleisure’ guidelines before they head on their trips so there is no misunderstanding surrounding work duration, business related expenses, and required outputs during the business portion of the trip so employees know exactly what is required of them.
Prioritising sustainability in travel policies
In addition to embracing ‘bleisure’, it’s increasingly important that companies consider ways to build a business travel policy that facilitates sustainable transport in line with their wider sustainability and ESG strategies.
FREENOW’s research also highlights that 81% of employees in Ireland consider sustainability an important factor for business-related transport decisions.
Some ways that employers can incorporate eco-friendly practices into their travel policies include:
- Carefully consider partnerships with eco-conscious providers: When organising business trips, employers should choose accommodation, ground transportation, and travel agencies that enable more sustainable transport choices for the employees – for example booking a hotel with EV charging points or booking micromobility options like e-bikes for short, urban trips.
- Promote Sustainable Travel Options: Employers should encourage the use of public transport, carpooling, cycling and walking where possible for work related transport. For instance, FREENOW provides business customers in Europe with a range of transport options to choose from when planning trips via the app – including taxis, public transport, e-bikes, e-scooters or car rental. By encouraging multi-modal transport employers can empower their employees in certain cases to reduce over-reliance on private vehicles and support more environmentally friendly transport choices.
- Adopt Green Transport: Employers should also embrace electric choices as part of the organisation’s commitment to sustainable transport approaches. Employers could consider transitioning a corporate fleet to electric or hybrid, or use a transport provider that has a range of electric shared vehicles, like FREENOW. We’ve experienced considerable growth in demand for electric taxis in Ireland, having completed almost two million EV trips last year.
- Reward Sustainable Choices: Employers can implement incentives and rewards for employees who choose eco-friendly options when travelling. For example, employers in Ireland can participate in the Bike to Work Scheme, which allows employees to purchase bikes and related safety equipment tax-free, encouraging cycling as a sustainable commuting option. Additionally, employers can offer other rewards, like assigning special parking spots to employees who carpool to the office with colleagues.
By embracing ‘bleisure’ and prioritising sustainability, companies can create a travel policies that not only motivates employees but also aligns with company values and strategy, contributing to a brighter future.
The most important first step is taking a look at existing transport policies within the workplace, and if policies haven’t been developed, there’s no better time than the present to build one that will ultimately benefit the business and staff.
Main image at top: Photo by Artem Zhukov on Unsplash
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