For many companies, working virtually was the only way to keep their doors open when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Video conferencing and other technologies were lifelines in an unpredictable and stressful time. But now that nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. population are vaccinated, things are starting to feel (dare we say it) normal again. The increase in air travel this summer has been an indicator of that. While air travel isn’t back to pre-pandemic levels, it’s on the rise. The busiest travel day in April 2020 showed TSA screened 171,563 screenings while the busiest day in April 2021 showed almost 1.6 million screenings.
However, with some areas still showing lower vaccination rates and the spread of highly transmissible variants, many people are still proceeding with caution. While that’s been true for all of us planning our summer vacations, it’s also true for business owners. According to Bloomberg, business and long-haul international travel is only 20% what it was before the pandemic. Southwest Airlines estimates business travel will still be down at least 50% at the end of this year compared with pre-Covid levels.
While the decline in business travel might spell trouble for airlines, what does it mean for businesses? What does business travel look like for your organization? How can you keep your employees safe when they travel?
Is business travel dead?
The pandemic forced us all to rethink the way we work. For some, that meant realizing that much of their work could be done remotely, without interruption. Many worked virtually, with employees spread across time zones with success. At the same time, others felt the pain of not meeting in-person more acutely. The last year has business owners questioning whether business travel is necessary at all.
We believe there is no replacement for in-person interaction. But do you need it all the time? Hopefully, you’ve learned a few things about how you do business over the last year and a half. Have you noticed areas where productivity has improved or worsened because you’ve been remote? Have your teams grown stronger or become more discordant since going virtual?
7 in 10 decision makers believe increased remote work will lead to more business travel, while 87% of decision makers cite business travel as a way to reinvigorate employee engagement.
- Back to Blu Skies Report from American Express and American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)
Benefits of face-to-face communication
In case you need a refresher on why face-to-face interactions are so beneficial, keep reading.
Better, clearer communication
Psychology Today says that while it’s impossible to determine an exact percentage, at least two-thirds of communication can be nonverbal. When you can’t see someone’s face, you miss those subtle changes in facial expression and eye contact that help convey meaning. Information sharing and achieving a consensus is often easier and more effective when it can be done in-person.
Stronger, more trusting relationships
According to a Forbes survey, 84 percent of executives say they prefer in-person meetings for their ability to build stronger and more meaningful business relationships.
“Business travel is about relationships; it’s not about transactions.”
- Scott Kirby, CEO United Airlines
Face-to-face communication is seen as more trustworthy than email, according to a 2017 study published by the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. It feels more sincere to make a request or connection in person rather than over email. It’s easier to build a deeper relationship face-to-face, rather than exclusively over email or phone.
More balanced meetings
It’s hard to manage differing personalities and dynamics in a meeting, especially if it’s virtual. You can manage interruptions better when you are face-to-face, keep employees more engaged and focused, and ensure those who are quieter to contribute to the conversation.
More opportunities for creativity & productivity
In-person meetings tend to be more productive and positive. It’s easier to get ideas flowing naturally when people are in a room together. On average, an in-person meeting generates about 13.36 ideas versus a virtual meeting, which generates 10.43 ideas. How many times have you been distracted by your phone or social media or an email during a virtual meeting? Probably more often than not.
4 in 5 business travelers prefer in-person brainstorms and collaborative meetings over virtual ones (79%), as well as in-person sales meetings over virtual ones (78%).
- Back to Blu Skies Report from American Express and American Express Global Business Travel (GBT)
We know we’ve said many times before that remote work is the way of the future, and employees want flexibility when it comes to where and when they work. We stand by that, but we also think with safe travel being a possibility now, that it’s a good idea to use in-person meetings when they are the most effective and efficient way to build your business. Business travel should be intentional! Not every meeting needs to happen in-person. Spend your money and time with purpose when it comes to business travel.
Business Travel Policy Post Covid-19
If you are reinstituting business travel, your priority should be formulating an updated business travel policy that accounts for the health of your employees and adheres to local and federal laws. We put together a list of questions to help you cover all your bases as you update your policy.
- Do employees need to be vaccinated to travel?
- Will employees need to quarantine upon arrival in their destination or upon returning home?
- Will employees need to take a covid-19 test before or after travel?
- Will the policy change based on whether travel is domestic or international?
- What happens if an employee violates travel policy?
- How do travel restrictions vary by mode of transportation (airplane, train, car, etc.)?
- Will employees be traveling alone or in a group?
- Are employees willing and able to wear a mask while traveling (as long as it is federally mandated)?
- Are employees willing and able to abide by mask mandates and social-distancing requirements at their destination?
- How will you notify and communicate requirements to employees based on the local, state, or territorial regulations at their destination?
- What happens if an employee tests positive for Covid-19 either at their destination or upon their arrival home?
Your policy will change as CDC guidelines are updated, more people are vaccinated, and safety regulations evolve. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) provided a starting point with this general outline for business travel policies during the pandemic. We also recommend keeping up with the CDC’s travel guidance.