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4 minutes readContent
- What is burnout?
- How business trips affect burnout
- How can employees manage burnout on a business trip?
- How companies can help
- Things to remember
What is burnout?
The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome that arises from chronic workplace stress. Employees may feel drained of energy, struggle with daily tasks, and gradually detach emotionally — sometimes even developing a negative attitude toward their work. While emotional detachment from work grows or even turns into a negative attitude toward it.
How business trips affect burnout
It’s not always clear whether business trips contribute to burnout. On the one hand, business trips have their perks: it’s a break from the office routine and an opportunity to visit new cities or countries.
However, there is another perspective. A study by World Travel Protection, published in the International Travel & Health Insurance Journal, found that 46% of UK employees report increased stress and burnout from frequent business trips.
Dr. Neil Slabbert, Regional Chief Medical Officer (Asia-Pacific Region) at World Travel Protection, sums it up: “The survey highlights that some travelers encounter difficulties when they are away from home. Disturbances in daily routine, separation from family and friends, as well as time zone shifts, are all factors that can exacerbate stress and anxiety.”
46% of UK employees report increased stress and burnout from frequent business trips.
Photo by Jacob Lund on Shutterstock
How can employees manage burnout on a business trip?
Avoid meetings on the first day of the trip
When employees reach their destination, the first day should be set aside for some R&R. Danielle Sabrina, founder and CEO of PR firm Society22, shared her experience with Business Insider: “My secret to achieving the perfect balance on a business trip is prioritizing rest and nutrition over a packed schedule. Choosing a more relaxed approach, I often arrive the day before my meetings to make sure I get a good night’s sleep.”
Take 1-2 days off after the business trip
This is particularly true for employees who regularly travel across multiple time zones or whose business trips take place over the weekends. Natalie Norfus, the founder of the independent human resources company The Norfus Firm, shares her advice in Business Insider: “If an employee has been on a week-long business trip, the company should mandate a minimum of one or two days of rest. This policy allows employees to recover and reduce the cumulative stress of travel.”
Take advantage of bleisure opportunities
Bleisure is a way to combine work with some leisure time. With a manager’s approval, an employee can stay over the weekend at their business trip destination to explore the city, see the sights, or just relax at a spa. New scenery is a great way to recharge.
How companies can help
Plan the number and frequency of trips in advance
This can be set out in the company’s travel policy. For example, limit the number of trips an employee can take each month or quarter. It’s important to assess whether each trip is really necessary and consider alternatives, like video conferences.
Clearly define the goals and objectives of the business trip
An employee should understand why they’re being sent on a business trip and what results are expected from them. Unnecessary business trips can negatively affect employee well-being and lead to burnout.
Allow employees to choose tickets and hotels themselves
If the company’s travel policy permits, employees may be given the option to choose which flight to take and which hotel to stay at. This allows employees to have autonomy over their accommodation options.
When planning a business trip, it is most convenient to search for and book tickets, hotels, and transfers using specialized B2B online services. The Roundtrip platform is a one-stop shop for all your travel and accommodation needs. The interface is designed to feel just like B2C aggregators, but the rates are lower.
Things to remember
- Burnout occurs as a result of chronic stress in the workplace. It causes employees to feel exhausted or develop a negative attitude towards their work.
- Sometimes business trips actually help fight workplace burnout — employees get fresh experiences and a break from routine. But if business trips are too frequent and exhausting, they actually make the problem worse.
- To reduce the risk of burnout from business trips, you can skip meetings on the first travel day, take 1–2 vacation days after returning, or combine the work trip with some leisure activities to recharge.
- Companies can also help their employees cope with burnout during business trips. For example, you can plan ahead by setting limits on the number and frequency of trips, clearly defining the goals of each business trip, and letting employees choose their own flights and hotels.
We wish all our business travellers smooth, stress-free journeys — and travel managers complete peace of mind when booking. With Roundtrip, hassle-free business travel is always within reach. A dedicated account manager and 24/7 multilingual support are here to make every trip simpler.
