Employees want to decide whether or not to travel for work after pandemic

Employers care mostly about being able to decide for themselves whether or not to travel for work. — ARTEM ZHUKOV/Unsplash

Business travellers are not fond of screen-based interaction as their primary meeting method and prefer to meet in person, according to a recent survey.

The majority of respondents (76%), in a survey by travel management company BCD Travel, said that business travel helps them perform their work efficiently.

While virtual meetings and remote work are here to stay, respondents believe that business travel and face-to-face meetings remain extremely important.

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BCD Travel global chief operating officer and chief commercial officer Mike Janssen said face-to-face meeting is an important component of smooth business operations.

“Meeting face-to-face not only remains a critical component to achieving company goals, it’s also essential to satisfying businesses’ need for efficiency and human interaction,” he said.

The survey also revealed that 60% prefer to return to pre-pandemic levels of business travel, while 26% prefer to travel less and 9% to travel more.

The results are based on an online survey of 738 business travellers worldwide

When it comes to corporate travel policies in a post-pandemic environment, respondents care mostly about being able to decide for themselves whether or not to travel (64%).

“In a post-pandemic environment, corporations need to continue giving guidance. In order to remain an attractive employer in this fast-developing environment, they should also consider empowering employees to make their own travel decisions,” Janssen said.

The study also highlighted main travel concerns among business travellers. These include quarantine on arrival, followed by concerns over sudden lockdowns and rapidly changing travel regulations.

Business travellers desire a more simplified trip approval process (58%) and the prioritising of direct flights (53%).

That being said, virtual meetings and remote working will likely be the new norm moving forward.

“While in some parts of the world the pandemic is slowly receding, other parts might continue to rely on virtual meetings,” said BCD Meetings & Events global president Scott Graf.

“Training or outsourced support can be the answer to keep employees focused and motivated in a continually challenging environment,” he said.