MENTAL HEALTH
the tools and integrate them into our communication plans. It's not just about telling someone how to apply for a visa, it's also telling them how to manage their work time on, for instance, their phones.”
EFFORTLESS TRAVEL Raj Sachdave, managing partner at Black Box Partnerships, recognises that, as part of Good Employer Status, it’s the responsibility of people in the industry to make sure we further enhance business productivity and make travel effortless. “Seasoned travellers in this country have a stiff
upper lip attitude. ‘I’ll carry on, everything will be okay and when I get home, I'll have a glass of wine and I'll cry,’” says Sachdave, who emphasises that a company’s biggest “asset” is their workforce and TMCs need to pay “more attention” to employees’ wellbeing. “TMCs, from a profile perspective, should have a smarter insight into the persona of the individual, not just their date of birth and passport number.” Sachdave recommends that TMCs provide business
travellers with a chauffeur or taxi service to airports, particularly for early flights. “They should say: ‘Don't worry, we have a car to look after you, so you can relax.’ That's the sort of thing where your stress levels immediately go down and it means the employer is looking out for the worker’s interests. “Travel policies and mandates need to grow up a little bit,” Sachdave adds. “They need to say ‘you know and I know I'm paying all of your expenses and your per diem rate and everything else, but just like when you are at home, there's going to be some sort of start and finish to your working day.’ “If you look at young tech companies, they say after a
trip, ‘Work from home for the rest of the week, we trust you… reacclimatise back into your routine.’”
THREE WAYS TO INCORPORATE MENTAL HEALTH INTO YOUR TRAVEL POLICY
1
Provide staff with the option of not travelling when feeling mentally unwell. This has to be
linked closely to HR and line managers having the ability to support the person through recovery.
allowances for healthy food choices, use of sport facilities, and activities to help reduce stress – cinema, theatre vouchers and local events.
Recognise that travel is lonely. When visiting other company offices, suggest the option of paying for dinner for the traveller and a colleague.
2 3
Reward healthy decisions while travelling. For example, provide additional per diem
Laura French, chief people officer at Capita Travel
and Events, says corporates should be able to identify those who are living with stress or mental health conditions. “You need to create an environment whereby employees feel they can be open and honest about their mental health,” she says. French stresses that firms need to invest in having
“accredited Mental Health First Aiders who are equipped to support employees, coupled with support statements from leadership; led from the top. These activities could support HR to get closer to employees and, therefore, have better insight into their wellbeing and find appropriate solutions – allowing HR to collaborate better with travel managers.” She maintains that there should be a wellbeing
programme within the travel policy. By setting clear expectations for your employees, they are “more likely to take ownership for how to go about doing their job without feeling they will be judged or reprimanded”. “PLCs need to go on a training course and realise
SEASONED TRAVELLERS
HAVE A STIFF UPPER LIP ATTITUDE: ‘I’LL CARRY ON, EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY AND WHEN I GET HOME, I’LL HAVE A GLASS OF WINE AND I’LL CRY’
it's okay to talk about mental health and wellbeing," concludes Sachdave. “The biggest muscle in your body is your brain and for some reason we tend to neglect that and concentrate on other parts.”
■ MATTHEW HOLMAN will be speaking at the BBT Forum on 8 November. To register, and to find out more, go to
bbtforum.com
98
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
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buyingbusinesstravel.com
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