The modern workplace has shifted to focus on employees. Cubicles are being replaced by communal work tables. Time cards are being traded for flex time. Team building is the norm. But what does all this mean for business travel policy? The fact is that travel policy has to shift and change with the evolving corporate culture. BlueOrange Travel, a New York City-based travel agency, offers these recommendations for designing your company’s corporate travel policy for your modern workplace and employees.
Crafting Modern Business Travel Policy that Fits Your Company
Focus on the Employee
Workplaces and corporate cultures have changed, in part, because the workforce is getting younger. With more millennials starting careers, many of the people who are traveling for business are digitally savvy and see travel as a way to experience different cultures and everything the world has to offer. A solid travel policy should reflect that shift.
Writing a corporate travel policy with employees in mind is beneficial to both the workers and the company as a whole for several reasons. First, this method ensures that the policy will be followed. By tailoring your company’s travel policy to your employees needs, you make the guidelines easier to follow. Additionally, including more room for flexibility can increase compliance.
A modern travel policy is employee-driven and helps to keep your employees happier, which, in turn, will help to retain talent and workers. It can also help increase productivity, since happy workers are more efficient and dedicated to their duties.
Assess the Company’s Current Travel Practices
How often do people travel at your company? Do they travel overseas? How much does the company spend per trip? What are the benefits? What feedback have you received from your employees about their travel for work? Carefully analyze your company’s business travel data to look for trends, successes and failures. Find out what is working and what isn’t so that you can avoid problems moving forward.
Clearly Set Your Goals
You will be better able to write travel policy that is aimed at success when you have your goals clearly defined. What do you plan to accomplish each trip? Do the results justify the cost and time of travel? Defining your travel goals also ensures that your company and employees are aware of the direction the company is moving toward.
Consider How Flexible You will Be
How much wiggle room will you give your employees to make their own travel choices. Will they be able to choose their own flights and accommodations as long as they stay on budget or will you specify airlines and hotels? Also consider alternatives like Airbnb and how they fit into your company’s policies.
Another essential aspect of business travel to consider is if you will you allow employees to extend their trip to include personal time in their destination? This practice of combining business and leisure is especially important for millennial employees.
Letting Outsiders In
When you decide how you will enforce your modern travel policy, you might consider handing some of the details over to outside agencies. A professional travel agency that specializes in corporate travel can help you and your employees stick to a designated travel policy and budget while still maintaining the high level of travel comfort that your employees expect.
Additionally, you might consider digital tools to enforce details like expenses or communication. Your entire company can work under a single system to unify and simplify the process for everyone who travels.
A well-written and complete business travel policy can be an irreplaceable asset to your company, but make sure it fits your company’s modern culture and environment. For more advice or help planning your next business trip, contact BlueOrange Travel today.